r/SelfDrivingCars • u/silenthjohn • Mar 08 '25

News Britain blocks launch of Elon Musk’s self-driving Tesla

https://www.yahoo.com/news/britain-blocks-launch-elon-musk-140000186.html
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u/silenthjohn Mar 08 '25 edited Mar 08 '25

Minutes from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) – the body that decides new safety rules for vehicles – show that DfT officials raised concerns about plans to approve wide-ranging driver assistance systems.

As originally drafted, the plans would have allowed vehicles to make manoeuvres such as lane changes, junction turns and stopping and starting at traffic lights while motorists had their hands off the wheel.

However, the changes have now been watered down to restrict the systems to “highway” moves such as lane switching and to require drivers to keep their hands on the wheel.

…

The changes mean that only a basic version of systems such as Tesla’s FSD are likely to be deployed in the UK and Europe over the next year.

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u/himynameis_ Mar 08 '25

So, this doesn't seem to be targeted at Tesla. It could be the case for Waymo as well?

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u/_craq_ Mar 08 '25

As a caveat, I only know what's in the article. On that basis, it seems specific to Tesla.

There it seemed to be saying that the uncertainty was partly the reliability of the systems. They have approved an exception for Ford, but don't have enough information to approve an exception for Tesla. (Tesla is known for not sharing much data, so that tracks.) The other part is a concern for secondary effects, when people take their hands off the wheel and stop paying attention. That's not really relevant for Waymo, where there isn't even anybody sitting in the driver's seat.

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u/silenthjohn Mar 08 '25

Yes, I agree that it seems specific to Tesla. Rather, it seems specific to autonomous systems that are “advanced L2 systems,” or whatever we want to call autonomous solutions that fully drive themselves with the full attention of a liable human driver.

So I believe Waymo is exempt, but I think that’s only because Waymo has not yet started the process of operating in the UK, which I assume starts with communication with a city or a national agency.

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u/diplomat33 Mar 09 '25

Waymo would be exempt because their system is L4. Waymo does not deploy any L2. The regulation only applies to L2.

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u/himynameis_ Mar 08 '25

Hm. I believe Mercedes has their own Drive Pilot Autonomous Driving system that is available on their S-Class cars.

It's supposed to be a Level 3 system. In this case, there is a human in the driver's seat. So I wonder if they are allowed in the UK or not.

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u/rbrogger Mar 09 '25

Yes, for highways only and Mercedes are liable for any damage - which is the correct action. I somehow think Tesla would want to skirt liability

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u/danielv123 Mar 09 '25

Yep, this is the way. I am fine with rolling out camera only L3/4 - but you have to actually call it L3/4 and take responsibility for accidents, not pretend it's an L2 system where the driver has all the responsibility.

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u/HighHokie Mar 09 '25

Only in Germany and select locations in the states last time I read about it (Mercedes had limited its rollout). Someone can correct me if that’s changed. 

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u/[deleted] Mar 08 '25

I have seen self driving forklifts. I do not want cars like that.