Self-driving cars are coming. Multiple major auto manufacturers already have their own proprietary systems, which rely on a combo of high-res cameras, radar-based distance detection, and LiDAR to act as the vehicle’s “eyes.” This revolutionary tech allows them to do some pretty amazing things, and as this technology advances, we expect to see more and more people cruising down the highway hands-free style.
Whether you love or hate the idea of autonomous vehicles, we’re going to be sharing the road with them in our lifetime. While the current tech is no replacement for attentive driving, it’s getting better every year. Here’s the scoop on the different levels of vehicle self-driving.
Who Comes Up With This Stuff, Anyway?
Self-driving technology has been around in some shape or form for a while now, but there still isn’t a whole lot of standardization about the jargon. Automotive and tech companies use different terms interchangeably, which can lead to some confusion.
The closest thing we have to a standard—in the U.S., at least—comes from a company called SAE International. Back in 2014, they published a document with the absolutely thrilling title of, “Taxonomy and Definitions for Terms Related to On-Road Motor Vehicle Automated Driving Systems,” also known as J3016. SAE’s definitions are the ones officially used by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), as well as other arms of the government like the EPA.
So, despite some criticisms, SAE’s levels of automation are as close to a standard as we’ve got, at least for the time being.
Levels of Self-Driving
SAE International defines six distinct levels of driving automation.
SAE Level 0 (No Driving Automation)
This one’s pretty self-explanatory, right? Level 0 refers to regular old cars where the driver is 100% responsible for the safety of themselves and those around them.
Level 0 cars may also have minor driving assistance features like lane departure warning and automatic E-braking. These features are excluded from the definition of the Dynamic Driving Task (DDT) because they don’t actually “take over” the act of driving, and only provide momentary assistance.
SAE Level 1 (Driver Assistance)
This level covers some of the advanced driver assistance systems found in many recent models—things like adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assistance, which automate things like acceleration and steering, but not necessarily at the same time. The driver is still fully responsible and must remain vigilant. If you have an SUV with Chevy Safety Assist, you have a few features that are classified as Level 1.
SAE Level 2 (Partial Driving Automation)
At Level 2, we start to see a little glimpse of honest-to-goodness self-driving. The vehicle is able to control speed and steering using a variety of external sensors, but the operation is limited. The driver is still fully accountable, and must remain aware of their surroundings at all times. The self-driving technology may only work on certain streets, and may not work well in inclement weather conditions.
There are a few automakers who have implemented Level 2 driving, including Chevy with Super Cruise, which allows for hands-free driving and trailering on compatible roadways. Until very recently, this was the highest level found in American passenger vehicles.
SAE Level 3 (Conditional Driving Automation)
In this stage, the ADAS takes over even more, and is able to handle a wider variety of situations without the driver’s input. For instance, the car is able to avoid hazards, navigate traffic jams, or overtake slower vehicles on the highway. It represents a pretty big leap in technology, because this is the first level where the car is actually, truly driving itself. However, the person in the driver’s seat still needs to be ready to take over when prompted, because the system has some built-in limitations.
Level 3 cars were first made available in Europe a couple years ago, and some luxury brands offer road-legal Level 3 technology in the U.S. However, at the time of this writing, the tech is still strictly regulated; it can only be used in certain conditions, and below certain speeds.
SAE Level 4 (High Driving Automation)
Now we’re getting into some borderline sci-fi territory. The big difference between Level 3 and 4 is that, at Level 4, the car is sufficiently advanced to the point where it no longer needs any human input to navigate roads safely, at least in theory. Because these cars technically have no driver, the car itself bears the responsibility in the event of an accident. They aren’t without limitation, though—these cars are usually restricted to operate within a certain mile radius, and can’t drive at high speeds.
Level 4 vehicles do exist, and have been in service around the world for a couple of years. One example is Waymo, a ridesharing service that operates in a limited capacity in certain cities. But, it’ll be some time before this level of automation will be available for consumers to buy, so for now it remains a novelty for folks visiting cities like LA or Austin.
SAE Level 5 (Full Driving Automation)
At Level 5, we’ve finally reached self-driving that’s uninhibited by speed or location regulations. The car can drive in any conditions, arguably better than a human could (that’s the idea, at least). These cars may start to exhibit some truly radical design differences in the future, such as front seats that face backward to provide a sort of lounge setup. Many of them may not even not having a steering wheel or pedals at all.
Obviously, we’re probably still decades away from Level 5 cars showing up at car dealerships. Still, it’s pretty cool to think that the first person to own one has probably already been born.
Chevy Trucks With Super Cruise in Kansas City
We may be quite a while away from cars that drive themselves, but we do have tons of special offers on Silverado models with Super Cruise. Give us a ring at 866-453-2062 to learn how you can save money on a new Chevy truck in KC today.
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