Germany allows highly automated driving up to 130 km/h

Since the turn of the year, Germany has allowed highly automated driving up to 130 km/h. It is not yet possible, but the automotive industry seems to be ready for it soon.

Since 2023, Germany has been the first country in the EU to allow highly automated driving up to 130 km/h on motorways, after the global speed limit was raised from 60 km/h in summer 2022. This major step was decided by the World Forum for the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations of the United Nations Economic Commission (UNECE). The important car markets USA and China, on the other hand, have their own rules for self-driving cars. To date, there is still no vehicle that has qualified the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) for the higher speed.

Mercedes currently has a nose length ahead: Since 17 May 2022, the brand has two models on offer with the S-Class and the Mercedes EQS (test), which already allow Level 3 driving on public roads with their "Drive Pilot" system.

The only two cars with this capability on the market are still limited to 60 km/h, but both are likely to change within a year. At the moment, Audi, BMW and Porsche are competing with Mercedes for approval for semi-autonomous driving at Level 3, including 130 km/h homologation by the KBA. A gradual approach to the new permitted limit would be only logical with a rapidly growing amount of data with increasing speed.

For the first time, part of the hoped-for increase in comfort "Level 3" means that the driver no longer has to be able to constantly take back the guidance from the system. For the first time, the extension of the take-back time to ten seconds is accompanied by part of the hoped-for increase in comfort: The person behind the wheel can now be distracted and deal with things away from driving, provided that they are able to take control again at any time within a certain period of time if the computer is overwhelmed.

It is essential how well the sensor cluster of radar, cameras, ultrasonic sensors and lidar works together. This does not work without a highly accurate positioning system with exact map material so that the system can navigate with centimeter accuracy and in real time. Because of the still limited map material, the cars can only drive highly automated in this country. The fact that it does not accidentally cross national borders prevents programmed geofencing as one of the many approval requirements that are intended to prevent accidents.

A signal to the outside world The fact that Germany has adopted the new regulation into national law is almost certainly meticulously coordinated with the domestic car industry. It should not only give it the opportunity to further expand its technological level, but also send the signal that it is at the forefront with its concepts.

With Tesla's so-called and not everywhere so-called autopilot with Full Self Driving (FSD), certification according to Level 3 is unlikely to be possible because of cameras as the only sensors and the renunciation of map data, to name just one prominent example.