Fully driverless cars may still be deemed futuristic, yet the technology to automate our driving is happening fast.
In 2021, the UK Government wants to allow Automated Driving on its motorways by way of the introduction of Automated Lane Keeping Systems (ALKS).
It’s a decision not being met with widespread approval. Thatcham Research and the Association of British Insurers (ABI) are both urging the Government to revise its plans saying it will put road users’ lives at risk.
According to Thatcham Research, which passionately believes in the safe adoption of Automated Driving technology to reduce accidents, the Government should undertake further work with insurers and the automotive industry to ensure that road safety is fully considered before introducing Automated Lane Keeping Systems on the UK’s roads.
So, do companies operating fleets need to start thinking about automated driving and, if you operate a vehicle fleet, what should you do about it?
Officially known as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), these are electronic systems that assist in the driving and parking of vehicles.
Using automated technology, such as sensors and cameras, they detect nearby obstacles or driver errors, and respond accordingly.
It therefore won’t be long before the likes of ALKS (automated lane keeping systems), FCW(forward collision warning)andACC(adaptive cruise control) are all popping up in our fleet safety policies.
According to Dan Godfrey, technical service manager at Grosvenor Leasing, the ‘belt and braces’ approach is to state very clearly in all fleet policies that the driver is fully responsible for how their vehicle is driven.
“In the UK fleet sector, we’re in relatively unchartered waters with ADAS,” said Dan, “but self-parking, adaptive cruise control and other similar technologies are already in some fleet vehicles.
“It’s therefore wise to add some form of statement into your fleet policies to advise drivers of their obligation to drive safely irrespective of the assisting technology.”
Yet, this is just early days and the safety debate is going to become more complicated as we progress through the stages of ADAS – hence why Thatcham and the ABI are expressing their concerns about the Government’s early launch of ALKS.
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has defined ADAS into 6 stages, starting at Level 0 and going through to Level 5.
Level 0: No automation
In this case, the driver is fully in charge of operating the movement of the vehicle. However, the driving experience can include intervening systems such as automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and lane-departure warning. These technologies do not drive the vehicle but offer proper alerts or guidance in specific situations.
Level 1: Driver Assistance
At Level 1, the driver is responsible for most driving tasks with just one driving assistance feature. Adaptive cruise control is an example, which maintains a safe distance between your vehicle and the traffic ahead.
Level 2: Partly Automated Driving
Level 2 takes the vehicle from a single driver assistance system to multiple advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). These can automate the steering, acceleration and braking in certain scenarios. Nevertheless, the driver must actively participate at all times, either by monitoring system performance or keeping their hands on the steering wheel in preparation to take full control.
Level 3: Highly Automated Driving
Level 3 is known as conditional automation and closely mimics an A.I.-type interface. Driver assistance systems are programmed to make decisions on their own based on the changing driving environment around the vehicle. However, as with level 2 it still requires a human driver to be present and able to take control of the vehicle at any time.
Level 4: Fully Automated Driving
Level 4 does not require any human interaction in the operation of the vehicle because the vehicle is programmed to stop itself in the event of system failure. So, for all practical purposes, there would be no emergency override needed.
Level 4 is designed to allow the vehicle to travel from points A to B in self-driving mode, but the vehicle still includes normal driving equipment such as a steering wheel and brake pedal so that a human being can take control whenever they desire.
Level 5: Full Automation (No driver!)
Level 5 is full driving automation. With zero human interaction required, level 5 vehicles will not have steering wheels, pedals, mirrors etc. They will be designed to transport human beings comfortably and efficiently without a driving experience. The only human involvement will be to set a destination.