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October 7, 2024
Autonomous driving - the vision of self-driving cars that take us to our destination safely and comfortably - fascinates engineers, politicians, and the public alike. But how far has this future technology actually become a reality in Germany? And what hurdles still need to be overcome before autonomous vehicles can be used on a large scale?
German carmakers such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW are investing enormous sums in the development of autonomous driving systems and are playing a leading role in this. For example, Mercedes-Benz was the first manufacturer to receive approval for a so-called "Drive Pilot", which can take over driving tasks on highways in traffic jams and at speeds of up to 60 km/h. During this time, the driver is allowed to turn away from the traffic and use their smartphone, for example.
German politicians have also recognized the importance of autonomous driving and passed a law in 2021 that permits the use of autonomous vehicles on public roads. However, the legal framework is not yet fully clear. For example, it is currently still unclear who assumes liability in the event of an accident with an autonomous vehicle.
To better classify the development status of autonomous driving, five different autonomy levels are distinguished:
- Level 1: Assisted Driving (Driver assistance systems such as cruise control or lane keeping assist support the driver) - Level 2: Partially Automated Driving (The vehicle can temporarily take over certain driving tasks, but the driver must be ready to intervene at all times) - Level 3: Highly Automated Driving (The vehicle can completely take over the driving task in certain situations, but the driver must still be on board) - Level 4: Fully Automated Driving (The vehicle can drive completely autonomously on predefined routes, a driver is not required) - Level 5: Autonomous Driving (The vehicle can drive completely autonomously in all situations and environments)While vehicles of levels 1 to 3 are already on German roads, fully automated driving (level 4) is still in the testing phase. Pilot projects are currently underway in various cities in which autonomous shuttle buses are used on closed-off routes or in controlled environments such as company premises.
Before autonomous vehicles can be used on a large scale, a number of challenges still need to be overcome. In addition to legal issues, these are primarily technical and ethical aspects.
For example, autonomous driving systems need to become even more reliable and secure. Especially in complex traffic situations with many road users, in bad weather conditions or with insufficient road markings, current systems still reach their limits.
In addition, ethical questions need to be clarified. How should an autonomous vehicle decide in a dilemma situation where an accident is unavoidable? And who bears the responsibility if, despite all safety precautions, an accident does occur?
Despite these challenges, autonomous driving is a future technology with great potential. Autonomous vehicles could contribute to greater road safety, reduce congestion and improve mobility for people who are unable to drive themselves. However, it will be several years before this happens. Experts assume that fully automated driving will not become established until the second half of the 2030s at the earliest.
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