Conditional automated driving is a technical breakthrough that carmakers are proud of. But is it safe?
What’s at stake?
The automotive industry is opening another can of worms with its push for hands-free driving. Some argue a traffic jam pilot system — hands-free driving in steady highway traffic (60km per hour) — might be safely deployed. Perhaps. But what if a car had to stop suddenly in traffic because a human driver did not respond promptly to the car’s takeover request? Carmakers are sliding their definition of hands-free driving, hoping to deploy to higher speed motorways and city streets. Innovations are welcomed, but where are the safeguards?