What Are the Levels of Assisted Driving?
2 Answers
Assisted driving levels include: L1: Driver assistance, relying on adaptive cruise control to free the feet, but hands must remain on the steering wheel, and the driver still needs to control the vehicle. L2: Semi-autonomous driving, but the driver needs to continuously monitor the vehicle's operation. L3: Highly autonomous driving, where the driver does not need to continuously monitor the vehicle (can look at the phone), but in some situations, the driver must intervene as required by the system. L4: Higher-level autonomous driving, where the system automatically controls the vehicle in scenarios like highway driving or entering parking lots, and the driver does not need to monitor the vehicle. L5: The highest level of autonomous driving, fully driverless, where no driver is needed.
There are a total of 5 to 6 levels of driving assistance. I only discovered these details after purchasing several new cars: Level 0 means no assistance at all, relying entirely on manual operation. Level 1 is simpler, like adaptive cruise control, which helps maintain speed but doesn't handle steering. Level 2 combines multiple functions, allowing the vehicle to automatically accelerate, brake, and make slight steering adjustments on highways—this has been quite useful in my daily commute, reducing fatigue. Level 3 is more advanced, with the system capable of taking over driving in specific situations like traffic jams, but you must always be ready to take back control. Level 4 is almost fully autonomous, but only effective in specific areas like urban zones. Level 5 is the ideal scenario of fully autonomous driving, requiring no intervention. Honestly, most cars today are at Level 2, and I always remind myself not to rely too much on it because safety comes first—system errors can easily lead to accidents. When choosing a car model, understanding these levels can help avoid overspending on unnecessary features. From my driving experience, Level 2 is the most practical, especially for saving energy on long trips, but it's by no means foolproof—staying fully attentive is still essential.
