SAFETY & AWARENESS
Self-driving is safest when you know its limits.
Today's systems from Tesla, Rivian and Lucid assist you; they don't replace you. Here's what that means, how to use them safely, and where to find the real safety data.
"Supervised" means you are the driver.
Tesla FSD (Supervised) and Rivian's highway hands-free assist are Level 2 driver assistance. The car can steer, brake and accelerate, but you are responsible for driving at all times and must be ready to take over immediately. Driverless robotaxi services are a different, separately approved system that runs only in limited areas.
THE LEVELS
What each level of self-driving means
0
No automation · You drive
Warnings only, like a forward-collision alert.
1
Driver assistance · You drive
Helps with steering or speed, one at a time.
2
Partial automation · You drive
Steers and controls speed together, but you supervise every second. Tesla FSD (Supervised) and Rivian highway hands-free are here.
3
Conditional automation · Car drives, you take over when asked
Drives itself in limited conditions; you must be ready when it asks.
4
High automation · Car drives
No driver needed inside a set area, like a robotaxi service.
5
Full automation · Car drives
Drives anywhere a person could. No car does this today.
Based on SAE J3016, the industry's standard definitions.
SAFE USE
Every time you engage it
01
Keep your eyes on the road and your hands ready to steer.
02
Be ready to take over instantly; you are always the driver.
03
Take over early in construction zones, school zones and near emergency vehicles.
04
Keep cameras and sensors clean, and keep your software up to date.
05
Learn your car's alerts and what each one means.
06
Follow your owner's manual and local laws on driver assistance.
KNOW THE LIMITS
Where it can struggle
• Heavy rain, snow, fog or low sun glare
• Faded or missing lane lines
• Construction zones and flaggers
• Police, fire and ambulance scenes
• Unusual intersections and road layouts
• Debris, potholes and animals on the road
✕ Use weights or devices to fool the steering-wheel or attention checks.
✕ Look at your phone, sleep, or leave the driver's seat.
✕ Use driver assistance after drinking or when you are drowsy.
REAL DATA
Where to check safety for yourself
NHTSA crash reporting for driver-assist systems
U.S. government data on reported crashes involving Level 2 systems and self-driving cars.
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NHTSA recalls lookup
Check any open safety recall on your car by VIN.
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IIHS partial-automation safeguard ratings
How well systems keep drivers alert. In the first ratings (March 2024), most systems, Tesla's included, were rated poor.
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Tesla Vehicle Safety Report
Tesla's own quarterly crash-rate figures for cars using Autopilot and FSD.
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SAE J3016 levels of driving automation
The official definitions of Levels 0 to 5 used worldwide.
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IN THE NEWS
Latest safety stories
This page is general education, not legal or professional advice. Always follow your vehicle's owner's manual, its on-screen warnings, and the laws where you drive.
NOVASTAR
A Nova Spes LLC project. Not affiliated with Tesla, Rivian or Lucid. Headlines link to their original publishers.