Tim in Scotland wrote:

Maybe all autonomous cars should be fitted with a "dead man" type lever/switch or a "kill" cord like small boat engines and treadmills have - let it go and the car stops. That would also get around the problem of who is the person in charge of the vehicle - so no cocktail parties for the back up driver while on a journey in autonomous mode.

The TV programme talked about several levels of "autonomous" with the highest being no human involvement at all. Presumably so long as a human has some involvement e.g. access to steering or even just an override to hit maximum brakes, the driver will have to comply with the usual legal requirements e.g. insurance, fitness to drive, licence to drive etc. Once the vehicle is totally free of human involvement one will just need insurance.

The legal mob are going to have fun, and make lots of money, sorting this out! 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed