Steering through uncertainty: a systematic review of liability communication in autonomous vehicles

Abstract

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) represent a potential technological transformation of transportation systems, however, incidents involving them have highlighted the complex challenge of assigning liability. While a growing body of literature addresses legal and technical liability, the communication of liability – how legal, moral, or financial responsibility for adverse outcomes is conveyed among stakeholders such as manufacturers, users, insurers and policymakers – remains a critical gap. This multidisciplinary systematic literature review analyzes 90 academic articles published between 2015 and 2024 across a range of disciplines to map the current state of liability communication. Specifically, it examines how liability is communicated: who or what is held accountable for potential harms, under what conditions and through what mechanisms. We find that liability communication is often reactive, inconsistent and poorly aligned with public understanding. Despite the development of expert legal and technical frameworks, communication practices frequently fail to bridge the gap between expert discourse and end-user comprehension. The analysis is organised across five key themes: governance challenges; safety concerns; ownership models; cross-country comparisons; and future AV deployment. Across all five, communication failures are consistently linked to ambiguous terminology and the absence of proactive, standardised protocols. Together, these themes contribute to a more nuanced understanding of how liability is communicated within the evolving AV ecosystem. They also highlight an urgent need for updated policies and more effective, stakeholder-oriented communication strategies. In response, this study offers a necessary reframing of the problem – calling for the development of stakeholder-centric communication practices capable of functioning even amid legal uncertainty. Addressing these challenges is essential not only for effective AV integration but also for ensuring that this transformation unfolds safely and equitably.