Právní aspekty autonomních vozidel v právu ČR a vybraných zemí

We face modern technologies on a daily basis. It would be quite challenging to find a single industry where technology has not evolved over the last few years. Automation and the related creation of a cyber-physical space, i.e. IoT combined with artificial intelligence, represent significant advancements in the field of autonomous mobility. This thesis will focus on autonomous systems, with a particular emphasis on the legal aspects of autonomous vehicles. Special attention will also be given to rail autonomous vehicles. The overall objective of this thesis is to analyse the current state of the legal framework for the road and rail operation of autonomous vehicles in the Czech Republic in order to anticipate the development of the Czech legal framework in the future. In order to achieve this objective, the theoretical part first defines the term autonomous vehicle in legal sense, the basic classification of artificial intelligence according to the degree of automation, the degree of autonomy, and the ability of decision-making. Further, the thesis examines the classification of autonomy for both road and rail autonomous vehicles, as the level of autonomy has a direct impact on the determination of the correct legal basis for liability. The theoretical part concludes with an analysis of the legal framework of autonomous vehicles in the context of the Czech Republic, the European Union and selected countries using the normative-descriptive method. The practical part builds on the previous part and offers a legal framework comparison. In addition, the thesis is expanded by another empirical part in the format of qualitative research via interviews with experts from the New Technologies in Transport Department at the Ministry of Transport, where the author completed her internship. As this department is directly involved in the topic, its outputs have both academic and practical applications. As part of the de lege lata and de lege ferenda considerations, the final synthesis of all the parts provides recommendations for future legislative and institutional changes that could promote the implementation of safe and efficient operation of autonomous vehicles in the Czech Republic.