Driver assistance and self-driving cars
Driver assistance technologies, such as lane keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking, are becoming more common. Transport Canada notes that self-driving vehicles aren't commercially available in Canada (Transport Canada).
What safety agencies say
- Driver assistance does not replace the driver. Transport Canada says these systems are designed to help you but can't replace you, and that you should stay alert and engaged while driving, even if the driver assistance technologies are activated (Transport Canada).
- The driver stays responsible. The Highway Code for England, Scotland and Wales says assisted driving features, like cruise control and lane-keeping assistance, can do some of the driving, but the driver still needs to be responsible for driving at all times (The Highway Code).
- Names vary. Manufacturers don't always use standard terms for their vehicles' systems, and some systems turn on automatically while others need to be turned on or off (Transport Canada).
- Steering and speed help is not automated driving. Transport Canada says active driving assistance, which supports both steering and braking or acceleration and is sold under names such as Autopilot, ProPilot or Highway Driver Assist, is not an automated driving system: the driver needs to be actively involved in driving (Transport Canada).
- Systems have limits. Some systems may only work in specific conditions, for example within a certain speed, when lanes are visible and when road markings are clear (Transport Canada).
- Self-driving vehicles are different. Under the Highway Code, while a self-driving vehicle is driving itself in a valid situation, you are not responsible for how it drives, but you must always be able and ready to take control, and do it when the vehicle prompts you (The Highway Code).
- Driverless vehicles run under permits in some places. The California DMV authorizes manufacturers to test and deploy autonomous vehicles under three permit categories: testing with a safety driver, driverless testing, and deployment (California DMV).
What you can do
- Know your vehicle. Know what its technologies can and can't do before you use them on public roads, and read your owner's manual to learn about your vehicle's systems, including their capabilities and limitations (Transport Canada).
- Check for recalls. On GOV.UK you can find out whether a vehicle, part or accessory has been recalled because of a serious safety problem; if your vehicle has a serious safety defect, the manufacturer will write to you to tell you what to do (GOV.UK).
- Report a defect. Through GOV.UK you can report a serious safety defect with your vehicle or accessory if it could cause injury (GOV.UK).
- Report an autonomous vehicle problem. You can report an incident or safety concern involving an autonomous vehicle operating on California public roads to the California DMV, and a safety complaint involving an autonomous vehicle to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) (California DMV).
Sources
- What you need to know about driver assistance technologies, Transport Canada.
- Active driving assistance, Transport Canada.
- The Highway Code: Introduction, GOV.UK.
- Check if a vehicle, part or accessory has been recalled, GOV.UK.
- Vehicle recalls and faults, GOV.UK.
- Autonomous Vehicles, California DMV.
- Report an Autonomous Vehicle Incident or Safety Concern, California DMV.