US road safety regulators are defined to significantly increase the reporting requirements of car accidents where driver assistance technology such as Tesla Autopilot was engaged at that time, NHTSA confirmed today. Under the new policy, serious incidents involving vehicles equipped with SAE Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) or at the SAE 3-5 (ADS) automated driving levels should be reported to the Agency.
By the definitions of the SAE, Level 2 includes control of the autonomous cruise and means maintenance assistance, more and more prevalent features on new cars. There, although the driver is continuously commissioned to the vehicle – although it is the system, depending on the hands physically in contact with the wheel at any time – the ADAS contribute some degree of control.
It is usually used on the highway, where systems such as Tesla Autopilot, GM Super Cruise and Mercedes Stronic more aim to take some stress of maintaining the rhythm of traffic and maintaining the vehicle centered on the track. Nevertheless, despite what some owners can believe, these systems are not really autonomous. That is, the car is never able to operate without human surveillance.
Levels 3 to 5, however, see that take place. At Level 3 – Not available in the United States – Vehicles are capable of functioning independently, unattended, in some environments. Typically, it means on some pre-mapped stretching of a divided highway. Outside these regions, the car’s signals to the human driver they need to resume control.
Level 4 and Level 5, meanwhile, squeeze human participation even further. Nevertheless, while several companies test “real” autonomous vehicles deployments on public roads, there is no commercially available vehicle that can be purchased that does not require driver’s attention in a way or ‘another.
Anyway, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) now says that he wants to hear about all ads or accidents related to ads, assuming they are on the serious side.
“Vehicles operated by Level 2 ADAS have security risks for the occupants of these vehicles and other pavement users, partly because of the unconventional division of responsibility between the vehicle and its pilot Human, “says Nhtsa. “Misuse of an ADAS (including driver exceeding) can create a predictable risk and a potential security fault.”
“Other potential security issues with vehicles using Level 2 ADAS include the design and performance of sensors, software algorithms and other technologies used to analyze and meet the vehicle environment; technology and strategies to ensure the appropriate commitment of drivers; And the evolution of the system over time thanks to software updates, “adds the agency.
Now, when the new permanent general order comes into action, companies must report accidents involving a vehicle equipped with level 2 to 5 within a time of apprenticeship on this subject. Assuming that there has been a hospital-treated injury, fatality, towing vehicle, air-bag deployment or a vulnerable route user such as a pedestrian or a cyclist. The updated reports are due 10 days after that.
Each month, companies must report all other accidents involving vehicles equipped with ADS, if they involved injury or property damage. A new incident form has been developed for this purpose.
“These data will help the Agency identify potential security issues and impacts resulting from the functioning of advanced technologies on public roads and increase transparency,” explains NHTSA. “Access to ADS data can show whether there are common models in driverless vehicle accidents or systematic problems in operation.”
This is an important step in monitoring driver assistance technology, a subject that has been controversial over the years. In addition to the concerns that brand strategy like “autopilot” could give owners a falsely exaggerated meaning of what the vehicle can do alone, there are factors such as changes in difficulties.
