Non-autonomous driving
SAE level 0
no automation
Human driver manages all driving tasks
SAE level 1
driver assistance
Automated system can assist the humna driver during some driving tasks, taking over either steering or engine acceleration/deceleration
SAE level 2
partial automation
Automated system can conduct some steering and acceleration/deceleration while the human driver monitors the driving environment and handles the rest of the driving task
Autonomous driving:
Increased federal scrutiny
SAE level 3
conditional automation
Automated systems can conduct driving tasks and monitor the driving environment, but the human driver must be ready the retake control when the automated system requests
SAE level 4
high automation
Autonomous systems can drive the vehicle and monitor road conditions; the human driver does not need to take control, but the system can only operate in specific conditions and environments
SAE level 5
full automation
The fully autonomous vehicle can perform all driving and road-monitoring tasks in all driving conditions
More info
For details on new federal guidelines for self-driving vehicles, go to Today’s Motor Vehicles’ regulatory news section on page 10.
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