Autonomous driving has been on the minds of many for decades, as many movies and TV shows have depicted what they imagine self-driving vehicles could look like. Only recently has the world been able to experience the first taste of self-driving vehicles, thanks to companies like Waymo and Tesla. These companies have been pushing this self-driving dream into reality over the last few years. Tesla, in particular, has made great progress by releasing its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) V12 software to the public last month and recently announced a 30-day trial for all compatible Tesla vehicles. While it has its issues, this software offers a glimpse into the potential future of autonomous driving.
However, not everyone seems to share the same enthusiasm for these technological advancements. The province of British Columbia in Canada has taken a very different stance on the matter. The local government has recently implemented a ban on any autonomous driving technology beyond Level 2 autonomy. For those less familiar with the terminology, Level 1 autonomy is where the vehicle has a single function that can assist the driver, such as adaptive cruise control or lane-keeping assistance. However, the driver must remain in full control of the vehicle. Level 2 is where the vehicle can control both steering and acceleration and deceleration, but the driver must be prepared to take control at any time. Level 3 is an autonomous driving system that can handle all aspects of driving, but the driver must be available to take control if the system requests it. Mercedes is the only vehicle manufacturer in the US with this level of autonomy, although it has a limit of 40mph. Level 4 is when the vehicle can operate without a driver, and the driver is not required to take control. Level 5 is considered full automation, and the vehicle can operate without a driver under all conditions and does not require a steering wheel or pedals.
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system is categorized as Level 2 autonomy. But if Tesla or any other manufacturer advances to Level 3 or above, their vehicles would no longer comply with British Columbia’s regulations. This new law was formalized through the Order in Council 147/2024, enacted on March 18, 2024. The legislation not only forbids the operation of vehicles with Level 3 autonomy or higher but also prohibits driving vehicles equipped with these capabilities. As for the consequences of breaking this law, fines start from $320-$368 CAD, with driveteslacanada.ca noting the possibility of fines reaching up to $2,000 and sentences of up to 6 months in prison.
We hope that this regulation will not stick around long-term, and hopefully, exceptions will be incorporated in the future when advancements in autonomous driving technology leave Level 2 autonomy and below in the dust. Meanwhile, Tesla Full Self-Driving users in British Columbia can take comfort in knowing that their current self-deriving software remains within the legal limits of the law, for now.
