Partial driving automation is a convenience feature that is meant to make long drives easier. There’s no evidence that it makes driving safer, and, in fact, it can create new risks by making it easier for the driver’s attention to wander. For this reason, it’s essential that all partial driving automation systems incorporate robust safeguards.
For our partial automation safeguard ratings, we evaluate driver monitoring, attention reminders, emergency procedures and other aspects of system design. A system may be assigned a rating of good, acceptable, marginal or poor for its safeguards.
Requirements for a good partial automation safeguard rating
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Monitors both the driver’s gaze and hand position
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Uses multiple types of rapidly escalating alerts to get driver’s attention
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Fail-safe procedure slows vehicle, notifies manufacturer and keeps automation off limits for remainder of drive
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Automated lane changes must be initiated or confirmed by the driver
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Adaptive cruise control does not automatically resume after a lengthy stop or if the driver is not looking at the road
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Lane centering does not discourage steering by driver
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Automation features cannot be used with seat belt unfastened
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Automation features cannot be used with automatic emergency braking or lane departure prevention/warning disabled
Rated systems
Driver involvement | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Overall rating | Driver monitoring | Attention reminders | Emergency procedures | Lane change | ACC resume | Cooperative steering | Safety features | |
Lexus Teammate with Advanced Drive 2022-24 Lexus LS |
A | M | G | A | G | A | G | G |
General Motors Super Cruise 2023-24 GMC Sierra |
M | P | G | G | P | A | P | G |
Nissan ProPILOT Assist with Navi-link 2023-24 Nissan Ariya |
M | M | A | M | G | G | G | A |
BMW Active Driving Assistant Pro 2023-24 BMW X1 |
P | M | P | A | G | P | G | A |
Ford BlueCruise 2021-24 Ford Mustang Mach-E |
P | A | G | M | G | M | G | P |
Ford Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go and Lane Centering Assist 2021-24 Ford Mustang Mach-E |
P | A | G | M | G | G | G | P |
Genesis Highway Driving Assist 2 2023-24 Genesis G90 |
P | P | P | P | G | M | G | P |
Genesis Smart Cruise Control/Lane Following Assist 2023-24 Genesis G90 |
P | P | P | P | G | G | G | P |
Lexus Dynamic Radar Cruise Control with Lane Tracing Assist 2022-24 Lexus LS |
P | P | P | P | G | G | G | M |
Mercedes-Benz Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC with Active Steering Assist 2022-23 Mercedes-Benz C-Class |
P | M | P | A | G | G | G | P |
Nissan ProPILOT Assist 2.0 2023-24 Nissan Ariya |
P | P | A | M | G | G | G | G |
Tesla Autopilot, Version 2023.7.10 2021-23 Tesla Model 3 |
P | P | P | A | G | P | P | P |
Tesla Full Self-Driving (Beta), Version 2023.7.10 2021-23 Tesla Model 3 |
P | P | A | A | P | P | P | P |
Volvo Pilot Assist 2022-24 Volvo S90 |
P | P | P | M | G | G | G | P |
Test protocol
Safeguards for partial driving automation test protocol and rating guidelines Version I, March 2024