A recent announcement from Mercedes-Benz could fast track the rollout of autonomous cars and lay the groundwork for widespread adoption, according to industry experts.

While self-driving cars already exist (in trials) and are relatively capable, legal disputes over accountability following accidents is one of the most significant barriers preventing them from joining the traffic en masse.

However – as revealed to Road and Track earlier this week – the German car giant has now accepted legal responsibility for its autonomous ‘Drive Pilot’ system, which can automatically brake, accelerate, steer within its lane, and turn off highways…

The most recent announcement is in contrast to Tesla’s ‘Full Self-Driving’ system and General Motors’ ‘Ultra Cruise’, which both currently require users to agree to a disclaimer before engaging the technology.