Driving a car is so 2024, just let it drive itself
18 December 2024
Soon, you'll be able to read a book while driving to work in Switzerland. Starting in March 2025, autonomous driving will be permitted on motorways and designated parking spaces. The automotive industry has defined five levels of autonomous driving, from cruise control to fully self-driving vehicles. Drivers whose cars operate at level 3 or higher will be able to let go of the steering wheel for extended periods but must be ready to take over within seconds.
The cantons (Swiss states) will also approve certain routes for self-driving vehicles, which will need to be monitored by an operator in a control centre. The operator will be responsible for suggesting a driving manoeuvre if the vehicle cannot handle a complex situation on its own.
 | Donovan Frei In Europe, Germany and the UK are the frontrunners in establishing legal frameworks for the deployment of self-driving cars. In 2021, Germany approved a law permitting fully autonomous vehicles on public roads. Mercedes-Benz, one of the country's biggest car manufacturers, said its vehicles equipped with its automated driving system will be able to drive as fast as 95 km/h. The company is waiting for these models to be certified by Germany's motor transport authority, which should happen in 2025. As for the UK, its government passed the Automated Vehicles Act earlier this year, which aims to allow self-driving cars on British roads as soon as 2026. However, Switzerland and the rest of Europe are only playing catch-up with the US and China, where self-driving cars have been operating in major cities for several years. Waymo, an American company, launched autonomous ride-hailing services as early as 2018, followed by China's Pony.ai in 2019. |
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