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    Automated Vehicles for Safety

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      Overview
                      The continuing evolution of automotive technology aims to deliver even greater safety benefits than earlier technologies. One day, automated driving systems, which some refer to as automated vehicles, may be able to handle the whole task of driving when we don’t want to or can’t do it ourselves.

          
                    
          
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                                Safety Facts

                                                  42,514
      Number of people killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2022

        Learn about testing happening in the U.S.
              AV TEST

        Automated Vehicles for Safety
                                                                                                              The Topic
                                                                                NHTSA In Action
                                                                                Resources

      Today's Tech
                                      Safety Timeline
                                      Road to Full Automation
                                      Benefits
                                      Frequently Asked Questions

        Automated Vehicles for Safety
      The Topic
                      
                                              Today's Tech
                                                          Safety Timeline
                                                          Road to Full Automation
                                                          Benefits
                                                          Frequently Asked Questions
                                                                              NHTSA In Action
                                                                              Resources

                    The Topic
                  

                  The Evolution of Automated Safety Technologies
          
          
    
  
       
  
Related Topic
		Driver Assistance Technologies
   
  Many vehicles on the road today have driver assistance technologies, which help to save lives and prevent injuries on our nation's roads. While some driver assistance technologies are designed to warn you if you’re at risk of an impending crash, others are designed to take action to avoid a crash.
The continuing evolution of automotive technology, including driver assistance technologies and automated driving systems, aim to deliver even greater safety benefits.

 
  
A Vision for Safety: Learn More
																Download NHTSA’s voluntary guidance, technical documentation, and additional resources related to automated vehicles.
				Guidance ResourcesFive Eras of Safety
      1950 - 2000
                  
                                      Safety/Convenience Features
                  
                                      Cruise Control
	Seat Belts
	Antilock Brakes
                            
          2000 – 2010
                  
                                      Advanced Safety Features
                  
                                      Electronic Stability Control
	Blind Spot Detection
	Forward Collision Warning
	Lane Departure Warning
                            
          2010 – 2016
                  
                                      Advanced Driver Assistance Features
                  
                                      Rearview Video Systems
	Automatic Emergency Braking
	Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking
	Rear Automatic Emergency Braking
	Rear Cross Traffic Alert
	Lane Centering Assist
                            
          2016 - 2025
                  
                                      Partially Automated Safety Features
                  
                                      Lane Keeping Assist
Adaptive Cruise Control
Traffic Jam Assist
                            
          2025+
                  
                                      Fully Automated Safety Features
    

  
                
    The Topic
                  

                  The Road to Full Automation
          
          
    
  
       
  
GRAPHIC
		LEVELS OF AUTOMATION PDF
   
  Cars and trucks that drive us — instead of us driving them — may offer transformative safety opportunities at their maturity. At this time, even the highest level of driving automation available to consumers requires the full engagement and undivided attention of drivers. There is considerable investment into safe testing, development and validation of automated driving systems. These automotive technology advancements also have the potential to improve equity, air pollution, accessibility and traffic congestion.

 
  
                                                
      
  Level
                          0
                                            Momentary Driver Assistance

                System provides momentary driving assistance, like warnings and alerts, or emergency safety interventions while driver remains fully engaged and attentive.

**You Drive, You Monitor**

You, as the driver, are responsible for driving the vehicle. All vehicle features are assistive and do not operate the vehicle. You must steer, brake, and accelerate.

**Example of vehicle technologies:**

automatic emergency braking
	forward collision warning
	lane departure warning
                          
                            
                            Level
                          1
                                            Driver Assistance

                System provides continuous assistance with either acceleration/braking OR steering, while driver remains fully engaged and attentive

**You Drive, You Monitor**

You, as the driver, are responsible for driving the vehicle. When engaged, the system can perform either steering OR acceleration/braking.

**Example of vehicle technologies:**

adaptive cruise control
	lane keeping assistance
                          
                            
                            Level
                          2
                                            Additional Assistance

                System provides continuous assistance with both acceleration/braking AND steering, while driver remains fully engaged and attentive.

**You Drive, You Monitor**

You, as the driver, are responsible for driving the vehicle. When engaged, the system can perform steering AND acceleration/braking.

**Example of vehicle technologies:**

highway pilot
                          
                            
                            Level
                          3
                                            Conditional Automation

                System actively performs driving tasks while driver remains available to take over.

**System Drives, You Must Be Available To Take Over Upon Request**

When engaged, the system handles all aspects of the driving task while you, as the driver, are available to take over driving if requested. If the system can no longer operate and prompts the driver, the driver must be available to resume all aspects of the driving task.

**THESE TECHNOLOGIES ARE NOT AVAILABLE ON TODAY’S VEHICLES FOR CONSUMER PURCHASE IN THE UNITED STATES.**
                          
                            
                            Level
                          4
                                            High Automation

                System is fully responsible for driving tasks within limited service areas while occupants act only as passengers and do not need to be engaged.

**When Engaged, System Drives, You Ride**

When engaged, the system handles all driving tasks while you, now the passenger, are not needed to maneuver the vehicle. The system can only operate the vehicle in limited service areas, not universally. A human driver is not needed to operate the vehicle.

**THESE TECHNOLOGIES ARE NOT AVAILABLE ON TODAY’S VEHICLES FOR CONSUMER PURCHASE.**
                          
                            
                            Level
                          5
                                            Full Automation

                System is fully responsible for driving tasks while occupants act only as passengers and do not need to be engaged.

**When Engaged, System Drives, You Ride**

When engaged, the system handles all driving tasks while you, now the passenger, are not needed to maneuver the vehicle. The system can operate the vehicle universally – under all conditions and on all roadways. A human driver is not needed to operate the vehicle.

**THESE TECHNOLOGIES ARE NOT AVAILABLE ON TODAY’S VEHICLES FOR CONSUMER PURCHASE.**
        Blue CarThe Topic
                  

                  Benefits
          
          
    
  
       
  Safety
		 
  Vehicle safety promises to be one of automation's biggest benefits. Higher levels of automation, referred to as automated driving systems, remove the human driver from the chain of events that can lead to a crash. While these systems are not available to consumers today, the advantages of this developing technology could be far-reaching.
What is available to consumers today: active safety systems. These are types of advanced driver assistance systems, which provide lower levels of automation that can assist a driver by anticipating imminent dangers and working to avoid them.
Collectively, these technologies will help protect drivers and passengers, as well as bicyclists and pedestrians.

 
  Mobility
		 
  While full societal benefits of automated driving systems are difficult to project, their transformative potential is recognized. Automated driving systems, at their maturity, could increase mobility for seniors and people with disabilities and expand transportation options for underrepresented communities. NHTSA encourages equity to be considered and addressed throughout the ADS infrastructure and vehicle design processes.

 
  Economic and Societal Benefits
		 
  Automated technologies could deliver additional economic and societal benefits. A NHTSA study showed that motor vehicle crashes cost billions each year. Eliminating the majority of vehicle crashes through technology could reduce this cost.

 
  ENVIRONMENTAL


		
		 
  The automotive industry is moving toward more automation and electrification, which both hold promise for further improvements in safety and better environmental practices. Vehicle automation will potentially change the need for individualized parking spaces and lots, with increased use of automated ride share and shuttle fleets, which could dramatically transform land use. Also, vehicle electrification opens up possibilities to improve efficiency with less personal driving, resulting in further reductions of air pollutants from the transport sector.

 
  Efficiency and Convenience
		 
  Americans spent an estimated 6.9 billion hours in traffic delays in 2014, cutting into time at work or with family, increasing fuel costs and vehicle emissions. Automated driving systems have the potential to improve efficiency and convenience.The Topic
                  

                  Frequently Asked Questions
          
          
    
  
       
    
  When will automated driving systems or "self-driving" vehicles be available?
              Vehicles with an automated driving system, which some refer to as "self-driving" cars, are a future technology – not a technology you’re able to purchase and use today.
                      
            What are the safety benefits of automated vehicles?
              Types of automated technologies, such as advanced driver assistance system technologies already in use on the roads and future automated driving systems at their mature state, have the potential to reduce crashes, prevent injuries, and save lives. In some circumstances, automated technologies may be able to detect the threat of a crash and act faster than drivers. These technologies could greatly support drivers and reduce human errors and the resulting crashes, injuries, and economic tolls.
                      
            I’ve heard stories about "self-driving" vehicles that have crashed. Why are they on the road?
              There is no vehicle currently available for sale that is fully automated or "self-driving." Every vehicle currently for sale in the United States requires the full attention of the driver at all times for safe operation. While an increasing number of vehicles now offer some automated features designed to assist the driver under specific conditions, these vehicles are not fully automated.
Currently, states permit a limited number of “self-driving” vehicles to conduct testing, research, and pilot programs on public streets and NHTSA monitors their safety through its Standing General Order. NHTSA and USDOT are committed to overseeing the safe testing, development and deployment of these systems – currently in limited, restricted and designated locations and conditions.
                      
            What automated features are currently available in vehicles?
              Many vehicles today include features that assist drivers in specific circumstances, such as keeping us from drifting out of our lane or helping us stop in time to avoid a crash or reduce its severity. Read more about this on NHTSA's safety technologies topic. If you’re currently shopping for a new vehicle, review NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings to make informed decisions about the safety features included in the vehicle.
                      
            How will I know automated driving systems are safe?
              Vehicles are tested by the companies that build them. Companies must comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and certify that their vehicle is free of safety risks. Many companies today are testing vehicles with higher levels of automation to ensure that they operate as intended, but many experts indicate that more work remains to be done by developers to ensure their safe operation before they are available for consumers to purchase.
                      
            Will automated vehicles be more vulnerable to hacking?
              Cybersecurity is a critical issue that USDOT and automotive companies are working to address for the future safe deployment of these technologies. Advanced vehicle safety technologies depend on an array of electronics, sensors, and computing power. In advancing these features and exploring the potential of full automation, USDOT and NHTSA are focused on cybersecurity to ensure that companies appropriately safeguard these systems to be resilient and work as intended. You can read more about our approach by visiting NHTSA's vehicle cybersecurity topic.
                      
            If a vehicle is driving itself, who is liable if the vehicle crashes? How is the vehicle insured?
              It is vital to emphasize that drivers will continue to share driving responsibilities for the foreseeable future and must remain engaged and attentive to the driving task and the road ahead with the consumer available technologies today. However, questions about liability and insurance are among many important questions, in addition to technical considerations that, policymakers are working to address before automated driving systems reach their maturity and are available to the public.
                      
            I’ve seen concept automated vehicles that don’t even have a steering wheel, accelerator or brake pedal. Will I be allowed to drive my own vehicle in the future if it is automated?
              A vehicle that is fully automated will be capable of controlling all aspects of driving without human intervention, regardless of whether its design includes controls for an actual driver. Companies may take different design approaches to vehicles that do or do not include controls allowing for a traditional driver. As is the case now, consumers will decide what types of vehicle designs best suit their needs.
                      
            Will automated vehicles help the elderly and people with disabilities who cannot drive today?
              Some older Americans and people with disabilities are able to drive today by adapting or modifying their vehicles to meet their specific needs. Vehicles with partial and full automation could offer new mobility options to many more people, helping them to live independently or to better connect them to jobs, education and training, and other opportunities.
                      
            Explain the different terms: automated driving system, automated vehicle and "self-driving" vehicle.
              When discussing types of vehicles where a traditional driver would no longer be needed, NHTSA refers to them as automated driving systems. These types of vehicles have also been referred to as automated vehicles. NHTSA follows industry standards in not using the term "self-driving" to describe higher levels of automation, as this describes a vehicle's state of operation but not necessarily its capabilities and too often is falsely associated with how today's drivers need to interact with a vehicle.
                NHTSA In Action
                  

                  NHTSA is dedicated to advancing the lifesaving potential of new vehicle technologies
          
          
    
  
       
  NHTSA demonstrates its dedication to saving lives on our nation’s roads and highways through its approach to the safe development, testing, and deployment of new and advanced vehicle technologies that have enormous potential for improving safety and mobility for all Americans.

NHTSA supports the Safe System Approach, a data-driven, holistic, and equitable method to roadway safety that fully integrates the needs of all users. As part of this approach, vehicle safety technologies offer unique opportunities to reduce traffic deaths, injuries, and harm.

In 2021, NHTSA issued a Standing General Order that requires manufacturers and operators of automated driving systems and SAE Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems equipped vehicles to report crashes to the agency.

In 2020, NHTSA launched Automated Vehicle Transparency and Engagement for Safe Testing. As part of the AV TEST initiative, states and companies can voluntarily submit information about testing of automated driving systems to NHTSA, and the public can view the information using NHTSA’s interactive tool.

In September 2016, NHTSA and the U.S. Department of Transportation issued the Federal Automated Vehicles Policy, which sets forth a proactive approach to providing safety assurance and facilitating innovation. Building on that policy and incorporating feedback received through public comments, stakeholder meetings, and Congressional hearings the agency issued *Automated Driving Systems: A Vision for Safety*.
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                                                          Adapted Vehicles
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                                                          Automated Vehicles for Safety
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                                                          Seat Belts
                      Driver Assistance Technologies
                                                          Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
                                                          Odometer Fraud
                                                          Tires
                                                          Vehicle Theft Prevention
                                                          Takata Recall Spotlight

      


                        
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