The United Nations plans to establish safety regulation standards for level 4 automated driving, where the system handles all vehicle operations under specific conditions. These standards will require the automated driving system to match the safety of highly skilled drivers and mandate devices to record running conditions. The U.N. aims to finalize the regulations by June 2026.
According to a draft regulation obtained by The Yomiuri Shimbun and presented at a January meeting in Geneva, the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29), under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), is developing safety standards for level 4 automated driving, led by Japan and European countries. The standards require the automated driving system (ADS) to provide "a level of safety in mixed traffic at least equivalent to that of a competent and careful human driver," without strict numerical targets but mandating proof of low risks through simulations and real-world driving tests.
Automakers must install devices to record and store data such as speeds, distances to nearby objects or people, and camera images during automated driving. In cases of serious accidents or major issues like communication failures, companies are required to report promptly to authorities. Under a mutual recognition framework involving about 60 countries, including Japan, Britain, Germany, France, South Korea, and Australia, vehicles meeting these standards can be exported without additional tests, potentially creating an international market for self-driving cars.
Japan currently lacks domestic standards for mass-producing level 4 vehicles, and the U.N. regulations could serve as the common framework, with the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry expected to align national rules. However, adoption by the United States and China, which lead in automated driving technology, remains uncertain, possibly requiring Japanese automakers to adapt for exports to those markets.
Automated driving is divided into five levels based on human involvement. Level 4 allows the system to handle all recognition, judgment, and control actions under conditions like specific zones and speeds. In 2023, Japan permitted its first level 4 transport service in Eiheiji, Fukui Prefecture, with tests underway nationwide.
