LAUREN: Can cars really drive themselves today?
Yeah, yeah, we know, Tesla owners,
what you'd probably say.
But the reality is the answer to that question,
that's a bit complicated.
Lucky for you, you clicked on this video.
So I get to break down all the complexities
of self-driving car tech, and give you
tips that could help save your life
or the lives of your passengers or fellow motorists.
But first, make sure you like and subscribe to our channel.
And be sure to visit edmunds.com to find your next car.
Also, if you want to read a bit more in-depth on this topic,
click the link below for our full article.
All right, first off, you may have heard or seen
the term autonomous driving.
That's a fancy car nerd term that describes what we casually
refer to as self-driving cars, basically,
a car that can do it all on its own.
ARNIE CUNNINGHAM: Show me.
LAUREN: Ah, not so fast, though.
There are levels on the road to autonomy, levels
that the Professional Association of Engineers,
also known as SAE International, came up with.
It's worth saying that currently today, there are no autonomous
or fully self-driving cars for sale on the market,
not even close.
But I'm getting way ahead of myself.
There are two main groups that you should know about.
And within those groups, there are levels.
In the first group, a vehicle may
have varying types of support systems,
features like automatic emergency braking
or lane-keeping assist.
But the driver still is required to be active
and engaged at all times.
This group is level 0 through 2, which
I'll break down the differences in each in just a sec.
Levels 3 through 5 deal with vehicles
that have partially or fully automated driving systems
where the technology can take complete control of driving
without human supervision.
MIKAELA: This car's a pretty good driver.
LAUREN: This is nuanced and where most of the confusion
happens, because there's a big difference between level
3 and 4, let alone 5.
Now, to be clear, as of this recording,
there are no vehicles currently being
sold in the US that even reach level 3.
Level 4 and level 5, none of those, either.
KITT: I hate to be the one to break this to you,
but automobiles are not human.
LAUREN: All right, let's get into each level.
Level 0 is kind of self-explanatory.
It means you're probably in a vehicle that
has no driving-automation technology.
So you, as the driver, are completely
in control and in charge of operating the car's movement.
But there may be a momentary support
system like forward collision warnings
or automatic emergency braking that can kick in
for a little extra assist.
The vast majority of vehicles you see on the road right now,
especially older ones, are level 0.
Level 1 is pretty basic in that it's
a vehicle that has at least one driver support system that
provides steering assistance or braking and acceleration
assistance like adaptive cruise control.
As the driver, you're responsible for being
in control of the vehicle at all times.
SPEAKER 1: You're going the wrong way.
SPEAKER 2: How would he know where we're going?
LAUREN: Nearly all new cars and trucks sold today
are available with features that can meet or exceed this level.
SPEAKER 3: Yeah.
LAUREN: So let's say you have both the adaptive cruise
control and an active steering feature
like lane-centering assist.
What does that mean?
Well, that means you jumped to level 2.
Good for you.
Level 2 is the very last stop before we
head into the second group where there
is more significant automation.
In this level, as well as the previous ones,
you'll find cars that have more examples of what's
called Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, or ADAS,
allowing your car to take over things like steering,
acceleration, and braking, sometimes even hands-free.
But as the driver, you must still remain alert,
and you're required to actively supervise driving at all times.
You might have heard of General Motors Super
Cruise or Ford's BlueCruise.
These and others are all level 2's,
which can only be activated with certain conditions are
met like clear road markings or there's a barrier separating
you from oncoming traffic.
Now, this may come as a surprise, Elon fans,
but Tesla's autopilot and full self-driving systems are also
level 2 under these rules--
SPEAKER 4: Phew.
LAUREN: --which make those names dangerously misleading,
because these cars cannot actually drive themselves.
SPEAKER 5: Wow, so it just crossed the double yellow.
I would get pulled over if I drove the way the autopilot is
driving right now.
LAUREN: Now this is where things get interesting.
Kind of like the futuristic cars we've all seen in the movies,
the leap from level 2 to level 3 automation is significant.
Level 3 is known as conditional driving automation, which
basically means it's a combo of driver assist
and artificial intelligence guiding your car
if and when certain conditions are met.
However, you still need to be present and able to take
control whenever the car requests it.
So, no, sorry to say, you can't safely climb into the back
and start reading that novel you said you'd always finish.
Not here.
Even though a level 3 vehicle is not on the market just yet,
companies like Mercedes-Benz say they're very close.
But many companies think a level 3
car is a mistake, giving drivers a false sense of security.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
CREW: Lauren!
LAUREN: Oh, my bad.
I'm sorry.
It seems I dozed off like some Tesla owners do at the wheel.
Shade!
But no, seriously, it's really no joking matter when you're
taking a nap or totally checked out in a car that you think
is a level 4 or 5, which are fully self-driving,
and you're really not.
I hate to burst your futuristic bubble.
Which means, yeah, woo hoo, wake up.
I know you paid a lot of money for that Tessie,
but it definitely cannot safely drive itself.
HAL: I'm afraid I can't do that.
LAUREN: Level 4 means the car doesn't need a human driver.
You are not a factor.
DOUGLAS QUAID: Where am I?
JOHNNY CAB: You're in Johnny Cab.
LAUREN: It is programmed to stop itself on its own
if there's a problem or if certain conditions aren't met,
like bad weather conditions-- sorry, Midwest--
DOROTHY: Auntie Em!
LAUREN: --or if it goes outside the area
it's trained to drive in.
Since a human driver is never needed,
a level 4 vehicle may not have a steering wheel and pedals.
Can you imagine?
But the reality is that won't necessarily always
be the case, as it can still have controls
if a driver wants it.
Examples of level 4 cars are testing out in the real world
right now in geofenced environments.
You may have seen or even ridden in prototype
self-driving shuttles like those from Google's Waymo.
But while you may be able to catch a ride,
no, you still can't own your own.
And yes, at level 4, you can take a nap
while driving, or in this case, riding in the car.
Level 5 is the absolute highest you can go in automation,
according to SAE International, as you remember,
the Professional Association of Engineers
who developed these standards.
They're also the same people who decided
how we measure horsepower and a whole bunch of other aerospace
stuff.
Basically, they're smart.
The biggest difference between level 4 and 5
is that level 5 doesn't require that any particular driving
conditions need to be met.
These vehicles work rain or shine or snow,
and even in any place on Earth at any time.
Unfortunately right now, level 5 is basically theoretical.
SPEAKER 6: Whaa!
LAUREN: Though I've had some fun with these levels,
the truth of the matter is not understanding
these and, more importantly, driving
without an awareness of these levels
and the type of automation your vehicle is
capable of can be dangerous for you
and whoever is riding with you or around you.
I hope this info is helpful.
And please click on the link below
to learn more about each level and what the future holds.
We may not be in the George Jetson's world yet--
GEORGE JETSON: Jane, stop this crazy thing.
LAUREN: --but it feels like we're on our way.
And you don't want to be the last to know about how
all this technology works.
Did you know we have a top 10 for every vehicle category?
So check out edmunds.com, no matter what kind of car, truck,
or SUV you're searching for.
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