In British Columbia, the Motor Vehicle Act defines various levels of vehicle automation based on the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standards. These levels range from no automation (Level 0) to full automation (Level 5). The Act also regulates the use of these automated vehicles on public roads.
SAE Levels of Vehicle Automation:
1. Level 0 – No Automation: The vehicle has no automation; all driving tasks are performed by the human driver.
2. Level 1 – Driver Assistance: The vehicle may assist with either steering or acceleration/deceleration, but not both simultaneously. An example is adaptive cruise control.
3. Level 2 – Partial Automation: The vehicle can manage both steering and acceleration/deceleration simultaneously under certain conditions, but the human driver must remain engaged and monitor the driving environment. Examples include Tesla’s Autopilot and General Motors’ Super Cruise.
4. Level 3 – Conditional Automation: The vehicle can perform all driving tasks within certain conditions, but the human driver must be ready to intervene when requested.
5. Level 4 – High Automation: The vehicle can perform all driving tasks within specific operational conditions or geofenced areas without human intervention.
6. Level 5 – Full Automation: The vehicle is capable of all driving tasks under all conditions, with no need for human intervention.
Regulations in British Columbia:
As of April 5, 2024, British Columbia’s Motor Vehicle Act prohibits the operation of Level 3, Level 4, and Level 5 automated vehicles on public roads unless authorized by the province. This means that vehicles equipped with these higher levels of automation cannot be driven on public roads in B.C. without specific government approval. The legislation aims to enhance the safety of vulnerable road users, including cyclists and pedestrians, by restricting the use of highly automated self-driving vehicles until further testing and policy development deem them safe for public use.
This ban does not apply to Level 2 autonomous systems, which remain legal for use on public roads in B.C.
For more detailed information, you can refer to the official legislation: https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_13j?utm_source=chatgpt.com
