You will be provided with a reference and some statements. Please determine whether each statement is 'supported', 'unsupported', or 'unknown' with respect to the reference. Please note:
First, assess whether the reference contains any valid content. If the reference contains no valid information, such as a 'page not found' message, then all statements should be considered 'unknown'.
If the reference is valid, for a given statement: if the facts or data it contains can be found entirely or partially within the reference, it is considered 'supported' (data accepts rounding); if all facts and data in the statement cannot be found in the reference, it is considered 'unsupported'.

You should return the result in a JSON list format, where each item in the list contains the statement's index and the judgment result, for example:
[
    {
        "idx": 1,
        "result": "supported"
    },
    {
        "idx": 2,
        "result": "unsupported"
    }
]

Below are the reference and statements:
<reference>
Automated Vehicle Safety | NHTSA

Get info on automated driving systems, also referred to as automated vehicles and "self-driving" cars, and learn about their safety potential.

Skip to main content

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov
A
.gov
website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A

lock
(
) or
https://
means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, part of the

U.S. Department of Transportation

Search the site

Report a Safety Problem

Homepage

Español

Toggle navigation

Menu

Report a Safety Problem

Ratings

Recalls

Risky Driving

Drunk Driving

Drug-Impaired Driving

Distracted Driving

Speeding

Drowsy Driving

Road Safety

Child Safety

Teen Driving

Older Drivers

Pedestrian Safety

Bicycle Safety

Motorcycle Safety

School Bus Safety

Vehicle Safety

Car Seats & Boosters

Seat Belts

Tires

Air Bags

Takata Recall Spotlight

Driver Assistance Technologies

Electric & Hybrid Vehicles

Automated Vehicles

Vehicle Theft Prevention

Odometer Fraud

Adapted Vehicles

15-Passenger Vans

More

Briefing Room

Importing a Vehicle

Data

Research

Laws & Regulations

Vehicle Manufacturers

State Governments

Enforcement & Justice

Search the site

Vehicle Safety

Topics

Vehicle Safety

15-Passenger Vans

Adapted Vehicles

Air Bags

Automated Vehicle Safety

Car Seats and Booster Seats

Seat Belts

Driver Assistance Technologies

Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

Odometer Fraud

Tires

Vehicle Theft Prevention

Takata Recall Spotlight

Automated Vehicle Safety

Language:

English

Español

Overview

The continuing evolution of automotive technology aims to deliver even greater safety benefits than earlier technologies. One day, automated driving systems, which some refer to as automated vehicles, may be able to handle the whole task of driving when we don’t want to or can’t do it ourselves.

Share:

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Mail

Safety Facts

39,254

Number of people killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2024

AV Resources

Automated Vehicle Safety

The Topic

NHTSA In Action

Today's Tech

Safety Timeline

Road to Full Automation

Benefits

Frequently Asked Questions

Automated Vehicle Safety

The Topic

Today's Tech

Safety Timeline

Road to Full Automation

Benefits

Frequently Asked Questions

NHTSA In Action

The Topic

The Evolution of Automated Safety Technologies

Related Topic

Driver Assistance Technologies

Many vehicles on the road today have
driver assistance technologies
, which help to save lives and prevent injuries on our nation's roads. While some driver assistance technologies are designed to warn you if you’re at risk of an impending crash, others are designed to take action to avoid a crash.

The continuing evolution of automotive technology, including driver assistance technologies and automated driving systems, aim to deliver even greater safety benefits.

A Vision for Safety: Learn More

Download NHTSA’s voluntary guidance, technical documentation, and additional resources related to automated vehicles.

Guidance Resources

Five Eras of Safety

1950 - 2000

Safety/Convenience Features

Cruise Control

Seat Belts

Antilock Brakes

2000 – 2010

Advanced Safety Features

Electronic Stability Control

Blind Spot Detection

Forward Collision Warning

Lane Departure Warning

2010 – 2016

Advanced Driver Assistance Features

Rearview Video Systems

Automatic Emergency Braking

Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking

Rear Automatic Emergency Braking

Rear Cross Traffic Alert

Lane Centering Assist

2016 - 2025

Partially Automated Safety Features

Lane Keeping Assist

Adaptive Cruise Control

Traffic Jam Assist

The Topic

The Road to Full Automation

GRAPHIC

LEVELS OF AUTOMATION PDF

Cars and trucks that drive us — instead of us driving them — may offer transformative safety opportunities at their maturity. At this time, even the highest level of driving automation available to consumers requires the full engagement and undivided attention of drivers. There is considerable investment into safe testing, development and validation of automated driving systems.

Level

0

Momentary Driver Assistance

System provides momentary driving assistance, like warnings and alerts, or emergency safety interventions while driver remains fully engaged and attentive.

You Drive, You Monitor

You, as the driver, are responsible for driving the vehicle. All vehicle features are assistive and do not operate the vehicle. You must steer, brake, and accelerate.

Example of vehicle technologies:

automatic emergency braking

forward collision warning

lane departure warning

Level

1

Driver Assistance

System provides continuous assistance with either acceleration/braking OR steering, while driver remains fully engaged and attentive

You Drive, You Monitor

You, as the driver, are responsible for driving the vehicle. When engaged, the system can perform either steering OR acceleration/braking.

Example of vehicle technologies:

adaptive cruise control

lane keeping assistance

Level

2

Additional Assistance

System provides continuous assistance with both acceleration/braking AND steering, while driver remains fully engaged and attentive.

You Drive, You Monitor

You, as the driver, are responsible for driving the vehicle. When engaged, the system can perform steering AND acceleration/braking.

Example of vehicle technologies:

highway pilot

Level

3

Conditional Automation

System actively performs driving tasks while driver remains available to take over.
System Drives, You Must Be Available To Take Over Upon Request
When engaged, the system handles all aspects of the driving task while you, as the driver, are available to take over driving if requested. If the system can no longer operate and prompts the driver, the driver must be available to resume all aspects of the driving task.
THESE TECHNOLOGIES ARE NOT WIDELY AVAILABLE ON TODAY'S VEHICLES FOR CONSUMER PURCHASE.

Level

4

High Automation

System is fully responsible for driving tasks within limited service areas while occupants act only as passengers and do not need to be engaged.

When Engaged, System Drives, You Ride

When engaged, the system handles all driving tasks while you, now the passenger, are not needed to maneuver the vehicle. The system can only operate the vehicle in limited service areas, not universally. A human driver is not needed to operate the vehicle.

THESE TECHNOLOGIES ARE NOT AVAILABLE ON TODAY’S VEHICLES FOR CONSUMER PURCHASE.

Level

5

Full Automation

System is fully responsible for driving tasks while occupants act only as passengers and do not need to be engaged.

When Engaged, System Drives, You Ride

When engaged, the system handles all driving tasks while you, now the passenger, are not needed to maneuver the vehicle. The system can operate the vehicle universally – under all conditions and on all roadways. A human driver is not needed to operate the vehicle.

THESE TECHNOLOGIES ARE NOT AVAILABLE ON TODAY’S VEHICLES FOR CONSUMER PURCHASE.

The Topic

Benefits

Safety

Vehicle safety promises to be one of automation's biggest benefits. Higher levels of automation, referred to as automated driving systems, remove the human driver from the chain of events that can lead to a crash. While these systems are not available to consumers today, the advantages of this developing technology could be far-reaching.

What is available to consumers today: active safety systems. These are types of
advanced driver assistance systems
, which provide lower levels of automation that can assist a driver by anticipating imminent dangers and working to avoid them.

Collectively, these technologies will help protect drivers and passengers, as well as bicyclists and pedestrians.

The Topic

Frequently Asked Questions

When will automated driving systems or "self-driving" vehicles be available?

Vehicles with an automated driving system, which some refer to as "self-driving" cars, are a future technology – not a technology you’re able to purchase and use today.

What are the safety benefits of automated vehicles?

Types of automated technologies, such as advanced driver assistance system technologies already in use on the roads and future automated driving systems at their mature state, have the potential to reduce crashes, prevent injuries, and save lives. In some circumstances, automated technologies may be able to detect the threat of a crash and act faster than drivers. These technologies could greatly support drivers and reduce human errors and the resulting crashes, injuries, and economic tolls.

I’ve heard stories about "self-driving" vehicles that have crashed. Why are they on the road?

There is no vehicle currently available for sale that is fully automated or "self-driving." Every vehicle currently for sale in the United States requires the full attention of the driver at all times for safe operation. While an increasing number of vehicles now offer some automated features designed to assist the driver under specific conditions, these vehicles are not fully automated.

Currently, states permit a limited number of “self-driving” vehicles to conduct testing, research, and pilot programs on public streets and NHTSA monitors their safety through its
Standing General Order
. NHTSA and USDOT are committed to overseeing the safe testing, development and deployment of these systems – currently in limited, restricted and designated locations and conditions.

What automated features are currently available in vehicles?

Many vehicles today include features that assist drivers in specific circumstances, such as keeping us from drifting out of our lane or helping us stop in time to avoid a crash or reduce its severity. Read more about this on
NHTSA's safety technologies topic
. If you’re currently shopping for a new vehicle, review
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings
to make informed decisions about the safety features included in the vehicle.

How will I know automated driving systems are safe?

Vehicles are tested by the companies that build them. Companies must comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and certify that their vehicle is free of safety risks. Many companies today are testing vehicles with higher levels of automation to ensure that they operate as intended, but many experts indicate that more work remains to be done by developers to ensure their safe operation before they are available for consumers to purchase.

Will automated vehicles be more vulnerable to hacking?

Cybersecurity is a critical issue that USDOT and automotive companies are working to address for the future safe deployment of these technologies. Advanced vehicle safety technologies depend on an array of electronics, sensors, and computing power. In advancing these features and exploring the potential of full automation, USDOT and NHTSA are focused on cybersecurity to ensure that companies appropriately safeguard these systems to be resilient and work as intended. You can read more about our approach by visiting
NHTSA's vehicle cybersecurity topic
.

If a vehicle is driving itself, who is liable if the vehicle crashes? How is the vehicle insured?

It is vital to emphasize that drivers will continue to share driving responsibilities for the foreseeable future and must remain engaged and attentive to the driving task and the road ahead with the consumer available technologies today. However, questions about liability and insurance are among many important questions, in addition to technical considerations that, policymakers are working to address before automated driving systems reach their maturity and are available to the public.

I’ve seen concept automated vehicles that don’t even have a steering wheel, accelerator or brake pedal. Will I be allowed to drive my own vehicle in the future if it is automated?

A vehicle that is fully automated will be capable of controlling all aspects of driving without human intervention, regardless of whether its design includes controls for an actual driver. Companies may take different design approaches to vehicles that do or do not include controls allowing for a traditional driver. As is the case now, consumers will decide what types of vehicle designs best suit their needs.

Will automated vehicles help the elderly and people with disabilities who cannot drive today?

Some older Americans and people with disabilities are able to drive today by adapting or modifying their vehicles to meet their specific needs. Vehicles with partial and full automation could offer new mobility options to many more people, helping them to live independently or to better connect them to jobs, education and training, and other opportunities.

Explain the different terms: automated driving system, automated vehicle and "self-driving" vehicle.

When discussing types of vehicles where a traditional driver would no longer be needed, NHTSA refers to them as automated driving systems. These types of vehicles have also been referred to as automated vehicles. NHTSA follows industry standards in not using the term "self-driving" to describe higher levels of automation, as this describes a vehicle's state of operation but not necessarily its capabilities and too often is falsely associated with how today's drivers need to interact with a vehicle.

NHTSA In Action

NHTSA is dedicated to advancing the lifesaving potential of new vehicle technologies

NHTSA demonstrates its dedication to saving lives on our nation’s roads and highways through its approach to the safe development, testing, and deployment of new and advanced vehicle technologies that have enormous potential for improving safety and mobility for all Americans.
NHTSA supports the Safe System Approach, a data-driven and holistic method to roadway safety that fully integrates the needs of all users. As part of this approach, vehicle safety technologies offer unique opportunities to reduce traffic deaths, injuries, and harm.
In 2025, USDOT unveiled
new automated vehicle framework
, which included NHTSA’s release of an
amendment to the agency’s Standing General Order
for automated driving systems and Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems, and
domestic exemptions
for NHTSA’s automated vehicle exemption program.
In 2016, NHTSA and the U.S. Department of Transportation issued the Federal Automated Vehicles Policy, which sets forth a proactive approach to providing safety assurance and facilitating innovation. Building on that policy and incorporating feedback received through public comments, stakeholder meetings, and Congressional hearings the agency issued
Automated Driving Systems: A Vision for Safety
.

Explore other topics in

Vehicle Safety

15-Passenger Vans

Adapted Vehicles

Air Bags

Automated Vehicle Safety

Car Seats and Booster Seats

Seat Belts

Driver Assistance Technologies

Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

Odometer Fraud

Tires

Vehicle Theft Prevention

Takata Recall Spotlight

NHTSA Information

About NHTSA

Careers & Internships

Contact Us

Recall Information

Report a Safety Problem

Information For

Vehicle Manufacturers

State Governments

Enforcement & Justice

NHTSA Sites

SaferCar App

TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov

EMS.gov

911.gov

Website Information

Web Policies & Notices

Accessibility

FOIA

Privacy Policy

Information Quality

Vulnerability Disclosure Policy

No Fear Act Data

Ethics

Civil Rights

Office of Inspector General

OIG Hotline

BusinessUSA

USA.gov

WhiteHouse.gov

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Washington, D.C.

20590

888-327-4236

888-275-9171
(TTY)

Twitter

LinkedIn

Facebook

Youtube

Instagram

Submit Feedback >

Go to top of page
</reference>

<statements>
1. Liability in ADAS accidents should be allocated by functional boundaries—who controls the dynamic driving task, the operational design domain, and the fallback—rather than by product names.
2. U.S. regulatory guidance states the same point in consumer-facing terms: at Level 2, the system can perform steering and acceleration or braking, but the driver remains responsible for driving and must remain fully engaged and attentive.
3. That allocation reflects U.S. comparative-fault logic: driver inattention inside a Level 2 “you-monitor” system does not necessarily eliminate manufacturer exposure, but it remains a major causal factor.
4. NHTSA’s own framing reinforces the U.S. driver-responsibility baseline
5. NHTSA says that even the highest level of driving automation available to consumers requires full engagement and undivided attention
6. NHTSA does not use “self-driving” for higher levels of automation because the term is falsely associated with how drivers must interact with current vehicles
7. NHTSA says that drivers will continue to share driving responsibilities for the foreseeable future
8. On liability, NHTSA says only that questions about liability and insurance are among many issues policymakers are working to address before automated driving systems reach maturity
9. That leaves allocation to tort law, state law, and juries
10. The boundary between driver fault and manufacturer responsibility is drawn through naming, human-machine interface design, warning adequacy, operational-domain enforcement, and event data, each of which appears in technical standards, regulator guidance, litigation records, and statutory data rules
11. Naming is a liability-relevant representation, not merely marketing, because regulator and litigation records tie names to driver expectations
12. NHTSA says it follows industry standards in not using “self-driving” for higher levels of automation because the term is falsely associated with how drivers must interact with current vehicles
13. The analytical point is that courts and regulators should treat level labels and brand names as evidence of foreseeable user expectations, not as dispositive legal categories
14. Driver remains responsible for monitoring and intervention even when system controls steering and speed
15. NHTSA’s consumer guidance says higher-level systems are not widely available to consumers, while Mercedes-Benz reports Level 3 certifications and model-year availability in Nevada and California.
16. Regulators should require that marketing, owner manuals, HMI displays, and dealer communications state the actual dynamic-driving-task delegation: whether the system is Level 2, Level 3, or higher; whether the driver must monitor the road; whether hands-on or eyes-on is required; what the operational design domain is; and what happens on takeover failure.
17. In Level 2 accidents, the driver remains the primary responsible actor, but the manufacturer can still share liability where the system permits misuse, relies on weak monitoring, fails to geofence its domain, or creates unrealistic expectations
</statements>

Begin the assessment now. Output only the JSON list, without any conversational text or explanations.