Conditional automated driving at level 3: this will change from March 1
Let go of the steering wheel and the car drives itself on the highway. This will be possible from March 1 if you have a car with an approved and activated highway pilot. For the time being, the manufacturers have not yet applied for approval for Switzerland. This means that no vehicle will be conditionally automated on March 1. However, the TCS has taken a close look at the new technology and answers the most important questions.
Conditional automated driving at level 3 is a quantum leap for mobility and a fundamental change that will apply on Swiss highways from March 1. Nevertheless, the actual effects are unlikely to be noticeable for the time being. Level 3, conditionally automated driving, is now permitted. According to the Federal Council ordinance, this means that anyone driving a car that has an approved and activated freeway pilot and is on a freeway with a separate direction may let go of the steering wheel and no longer has to constantly monitor the traffic or the vehicle. However, you must be prepared to operate the vehicle yourself again at any time if the system requires it. In concrete terms, this means: texting or using the cell phone is possible, but not sleeping. The system checks the driver and intervenes if their eyes are closed or no longer visible.
TCS gathered initial findings
At the moment, there are only a few vehicle types in the premium segment that have the required automation system. However, these are not yet registered in Switzerland. However, past experience shows that technical developments in cars often start in the premium segment first and then quickly spread to other categories. TCS experts have already tested the new technology themselves in Germany and gained valuable insights in practice: "The highway pilot requires a thorough introduction and sometimes reacts very sensitively. For example, the camera does not recognize your eyes if you are wearing sunglasses," explains TCS expert Sandro Capun. There is a simple reason why the system reacts so cautiously: when the highway pilot is activated, the driver bears no responsibility if an accident occurs or traffic regulations are violated.
It is therefore clear that conditional automated driving at level 3 will also have an impact on insurance and legal aspects in the medium term. As the largest mobility club in Switzerland, TCS has experience and expertise in all areas affected by automated driving. TCS is therefore closely monitoring further developments in this segment in order to provide its 1.6 million members with advice, protection and assistance. The questions and answers below come from various TCS experts who have dealt intensively with the effects of conditionally automated driving.
The most important questions and answers
What does the new law basically say about conditionally automated driving? What is allowed from now on?
The new law allows drivers of an automated vehicle to use a highway pilot on separated highways. If the highway pilot is activated, they may let go of the steering device and no longer have to constantly monitor the traffic or the vehicle. However, they must remain ready to resume control of the vehicle themselves at any time if requested to do so by the automation system. These highway pilots correspond to conditionally automated driving level 3.
The use of driverless vehicles on officially approved routes is also permitted, but this has no relation to conditionally automated driving at level 3. The approval of routes is at the discretion of the cantons. The Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) issues directives for the assessment of routes applied for and forms an advisory group that can be consulted by the cantons. The driverless vehicles must be monitored by an operator at a control center.
Automated parking without the presence of a driver is also possible within defined and signalized parking garages and parking spaces. The cantons or municipalities are responsible for determining suitable parking areas.
In which situations is the driver asked to take over the steering wheel again?
The system prompts the driver by means of an acoustic signal to take over the steering wheel if you leave the permitted areas, if the weather and visibility conditions deteriorate, if complex traffic situations arise or due to unforeseeable behavior by other road users.
What happens if the car causes an accident during automated driving? Who is liable?
If the driver of a conditionally automated vehicle is not responsible for the driving behavior because the vehicle system has taken over the driving task, he or she is generally not liable. However, if the driver has ignored the request to take over or should have known that they should have taken over, they are still liable in the event of an accident.
What responsibility will the driver have in future?
Despite automated control, the owner of the vehicle remains in a central role after the revision of the law and is still liable regardless of fault in accordance with Art. 58 SVG. The driver remains responsible for the operation of the self-driving vehicle, even if control of the vehicle is in the hands of an automated system. Detailed knowledge of how the automated system works is essential. New obligations may also arise for the owner. For example, they must ensure that the system is always updated.
What are the implications for insurance companies?
It can be assumed that as automation progresses, claims will also shift from motor vehicle liability insurance to public liability insurance. This may occur through recourse claims from motor vehicle insurance or through direct claims. The higher the level of systems used, the more likely it is that direct claims against manufacturers or suppliers will increase.
Will the number of accidents increase or decrease due to conditionally autonomous driving?
The increasing use of assistance systems is expected to reduce accidents in the long term, as 9 out of 10 accidents today are due to human error, according to Astra. Until then, however, various questions remain. For example, whether the introduction of new technologies will lead to more accidents in the short term because all road users will have to get used to them. It is still difficult to predict what the development will look like in detail, but the prerequisites for assistance systems to improve safety are in place.
What are the effects on the congestion problem?
Automated driving can ensure that the distances between vehicles remain the same and can be smaller than with people at the wheel, which should reduce traffic jams. However, this will require widespread use of these systems. This is only likely to be realistic in the distant future.
How does Level 3 affect driver training?
During training, the actual driving without driver assistance systems must be learned so that cars equipped with the previous systems can be used in everyday life. With level 3 systems, not only the operation and handling must be learned and practiced, but also the so-called fallback. In other words, the driver must take over all tasks in a short space of time and drive the vehicle themselves if the system no longer works or the conditions change. These requirements are not easy and make the entire training more demanding. In addition, there are currently hardly any opportunities to use such systems and practise with them. In other words, it will be some time before the technology finds its way into driving school cars.
From July, knowledge of driver assistance systems and conditionally automated driving will also be tested in theoretical and practical examinations. What does this mean for prospective drivers?
They must be able to master the systems during training and later in the test. The primary aim is for learner drivers to demonstrate the use of driver assistance systems such as cruise control or adaptive cruise control during the test or to know the difference between driver assistance systems and conditionally automated driving. However, it is not specified which driver assistance systems the vehicle must have. Or that questions on systems are integrated into the theory test. However, this is kept simple and easy to understand.
Source: TCS
