An important first for Honda: in its homeland Japan, cars of the brand are allowed to drive around semi-autonomously (level 3) on a large scale. The Honda Legend will be the first car to actually do this next year.
Semi-autonomous driving is not new anymore, but it is still subject to strict rules. It is not just allowed to completely relinquish the steering wheel, although rules are being worked on in various places in the world that allow it. Tesla’s ‘Full Self Driving’, for example, is already in an advanced stage, but is not yet widely used. After all, a field test is still underway among specially designated owners with FSD on board. Honda is already going a step further in Japan next year, making it the first manufacturer with cars in which the driver is legally allowed to do something other than driving in some situations.
The Japanese government has given the green light for the massive use of ‘level 3’ autonomous driving in new Hondas. The Honda Legend of the coming model year will be the first car to be applied. Already in the first quarter of 2021, Honda wants to start delivering the Legend with the now approved ‘Traffic Jam Pilot’. Anyone who sets off with that car and ends up in a traffic jam, can relinquish the steering wheel. The car then does all the work itself and only requires intervention from the driver if deemed necessary. It is no longer necessary to hold one hand on the steering wheel and it is no longer even necessary to visually monitor the driving. Anyone not driving a car behind the wheel of their Legend in a traffic jam in Japan is therefore not formally punishable. You must still be able to intervene if the car warns you.