There has been considerable confusion in the interpretation of the SAE Levels of Automation J3016, in particular when defining whether a vehicle can be classed as automated. This is particularly relevant for insurers where there is a question of liability over who was in control of a vehicle when an accident has occurred. To clarify this a set of Requirements for Automated Vehicles has been developed to give a common benchmark for consumers, manufacturers, insurers and regulators.

The approach to developing the rules has been iterative. Initially they were formulated from an insurer paper focussed on the emerging Regulation 79 UNECE steering function rules and the requirements for partial automation. The challenge of driver disengagement and driver as back-up from Level 3 automation highlighted the issue of classifying these vehicles as automated.

To address this, Thatcham Research defined vehicles as Automated or Assisted based on whether they can meet ten specific criteria for automation. The criteria are based on road safety experience, anticipated vehicle capability, consideration of other road users and the fundamental requirement that these vehicles will generate less accidents. Experience using ADAS and Assisted Vehicles helped to give practical experience of some of the challenges that needed to be addressed.

These ten requirements have now been through insurer, regulator and manufacturer challenge and review in a number of different international territories. The rules have been strongly welcomed by manufacturers and regulators who had not seen any clear guidance when the rules were first issued. They have been used in a number of European countries for insurers to lobby government for safe and insurable vehicles. At the same time the marketing and communication of the rules combined with differentiating Assisted and Automated Driving have been key to disseminating the message to the wider public. Campaigns promoted wider understanding of the differences between the new technologies and the driver’s responsibility in Assisted Vehicles.

The Classification of Automated Vehicles will be a key challenge for international regulators over the next five years making the development of the rules and framework essential at this time.