Canadian Province Bans Any Car With Self-Driving Tech

British Columbia, Canada’s westernmost province, has banned all cars fitted with Level 3 and higher self-driving technology. The provincial government issued a statement stating the prohibition will protect vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists.

Self-driving technology has been heavily criticized of late, with numerous crashes raising safety concerns. In the United States, GM-backed Cruise lost its permit to operate self-driving vehicles due to several serious incidents, including colliding with a responding emergency vehicle. Many experts and industry insiders believe we need more time to prepare for self-driving tech. However, British Columbia has gone a step further and hasn’t just banned Level 3 driving but any vehicle with the technology from operating on its roads. It’s worth noting there are currently no cars available in Canada capable of Level 3 driving.

Big Punishments Face Offenders

Per the law, operating a vehicle with Level 3, 4, or 5 autonomous features is now an offense unless regulations permit. Those who defy the rules will face a minimum punishment of $368 and 3 penalty points, up to a maximum fine of $2,000 and six months in prison. Level 1 and Level 2 self-driving, including safety features such as lane-change assist, are still allowed on British Columbia roads.

Of course, this ban isn’t intended to be permanent, and the provincial government has said that more testing is needed before self-driving technology can be used on public roads. “Highly automated self-driving vehicles remain a new and emerging transportation technology. Further testing and policy development are necessary before Level 3 or higher automated vehicles are considered safe and can begin to be allowed for public use on BC roads,” reads the official statement.

US Officials Are Also Concerned About Self-Driving Safety Standards

While many may view this law as hindering development, the Canadian province wants to keep all road users safe. As we’ve seen on many occasions, motorists get far too comfortable with semiautonomous driver assists. Recently, the NTSB found that a fatal accident that took place in February happened while a hands-free driving assist was in use. This shows that the technology is not ready for widespread use and that humans are not using these systems as intended.

Earlier this year, the City of San Francisco sued California regulators over the decision to allow Waymo to operate robotaxis in the city. San Francisco officials said at the time that they wanted the California Public Utilities Commission to pause self-driving trials until safety regulations could be reevaluated.