logo
Brief Publisher Logo
FACT BRIEF

Did Nevada approve a driver assistance technology that allows drivers to take their eyes off the road under certain conditions?

By Austin Tannenbaum
View this fact brief on The Nevada Independent
Copy link
email
Copy featured image
email
YES

According to a Jan. 26 press release from Mercedes-Benz Group, Nevada became the first state to approve the automaker’s DRIVE PILOT automation technology, which enables vehicle operators to look away from the road “on suitable freeway sections and where there is high traffic density” at speeds up to 40 mph. Mercedes said the technology “allows the driver to take their mind off the traffic and focus on certain secondary activities.”

The Society of Automotive Engineers provides the industry standard for classification of driver assistance technology. Consisting of six levels, SAE’s Level 3 describes automation that users “need not supervise,” although they are expected to regain control if the system issues a “request to intervene.”

DRIVE PILOT is the first Level 3 automation technology to be confirmed for compliance in the U.S. Previous efforts by Audi and Tesla to win approval for higher levels of driving automation failed to gain regulatory approval.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Mercedes-Benz Group Certification for SAE Level 3 system for U.S. market
Society of Automotive Engineers Level 3 description
CNET Audi hangs up hopes for Level 3 partial automation system
Reuters Tesla cars will not be approved as fully self driving this year, Musk says
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
The Nevada Independent
The Nevada Independent is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news and opinion website founded in 2017 by veteran political journalist and commentator Jon Ralston. The site and its supporting channels are focused on ethical, unbiased and transparent journalism. In general, we aim to gather and disseminate important public information and increase civic engagement. We are supported by corporate donations, memberships, event ticket sales and sponsorships and foundation grants. We disclose all our members and donors. Donors have no influence over our content, ever. The Nevada Independent is the dba for Nevada News Bureau, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 2010 by Elizabeth Thompson, who now serves as one of The Nevada Independent's managing directors and its Editor.
FACT BRIEF BY
Brief Publisher Logo
Latest fact briefs from The Nevada Independent
facebook
twitter
email
email
About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.