If you follow self-driving car technology it’s likely you’ve encountered the SAE Levels of automation. The SAE Levels range from 0 to 5, with higher numbers indicating driving automation technology with more control authority (but not a linear progression, and not necessarily higher levels of safety). Unfortunately, in public discussions there is significant confusion and misuse (even abuse) of that terminology. In large part that is because the SAE Levels are primarily based on an engineering view rather than the perspective of a person driving the car.
We need a different categorization approach. One that emphasizes how drivers and organizations will deploy these vehicles rather than the underlying technology. Such an approach needs to emphasize the practical aspects of the driver’s role in vehicle operation.
