Self-driving cars & AI: will you still need a driver’s license soon?

Self-driving cars operate with 5 official levels of automation. Just simple at a glance:

• Level 0: do everything yourself.
• Level 1: an assist, such as cruise control or lane assist.
• Level 2: multiple aids at once, such as Tesla Autopilot or Mercedes Drive Pilot. The car can steer and accelerate, but you have to stay alert.
• Level 3: The car can drive itself in certain situations, such as on the highway. You may relax, but must be able to intervene immediately.
• Level 4: The car can do almost everything by itself, but in extreme conditions such as bad weather or heavy traffic, it may still need your help.
• Level 5: fully self-driving, no more steering wheel needed. You can lie back and Netflix. This is the dream, but future music for now.

In reality, most new cars can now drive independently at Level 2. So we are not there yet.

The painful reality behind the hype

Yes, there are impressive demos of self-driving cars, but also plenty of times when things go wrong. Think:

• Cars suddenly stopping for a plastic bag on the road.
• Accidents and lawsuits because systems did not respond properly.
• Viral dashcam footage where “self-driving” disappoints considerably.

Want to see how this goes wrong in real life? Watch Nieuwsuur’s news report below:

What does this legally mean for your driver’s license?

Good to know: as long as you are behind the wheel, you are responsible. So:

• Something goes wrong? You pay for the damage, unless you can actually prove that it was purely a technical defect.
• Sleeping at the wheel? Definitely not. Manufacturers themselves say: always have eyes on the road and be ready to intervene.

In short, you remain in charge.

Why you really can’t go without a steering wheel for now

A self-driving car sounds great, but the reality is unruly:

• Bad weather: rain, snow or fog can blind sensors.
• Unexpected situations: a fallen tree, a road worker who forgot his sign.
• Strange obstacles: your car sees a pizza box on the highway and gets confused. You then still have to step in and swerve.

Until cars can handle all the crazy situations, an alert driver remains indispensable.

Skills of the future: how to prepare?

In the coming years, you’ll be driving along with more and more smart driving assistance systems. What does that mean for you?

• Understanding what your car can and cannot do.
• Anticipation remains important.
• Technology is useful, but blind trust is not a good idea.

This is exactly why we train at Souldrive train our students in modern driving assistance systems as well as classic traffic insight. The perfect combination.

Conclusion and smart next step

Self-driving? Yes. Driving license obsolete? Certainly not!

Until the day your car really can do everything itself, a smart driver is golden.

Souldrive, your driving school in Tilburg, prepares you for tomorrow’s cars as well as today’s traffic jams.