SAE J3106™ Level 3

SAE Level 3 - Conditional Driving Automation

At Level 3, the vehicle can perform all driving tasks and monitor the driving environment in some situations. However, the human driver must be ready to take back control when the system requests.

Examples of Level 3 Systems

• Audi Traffic Jam Pilot (not yet activated for consumer use)
• Honda Legend with Traffic Jam Pilot (approved for use in Japan only)
• Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot (announced for future U.S. release)

Level 3 systems are designed to operate in specific conditions such as on highways or in traffic jams up to a certain speed. Outside of those operational design domains (ODDs), the driver must remain in control.

Human Driver Roles and Responsibilities

While Level 3 enables drivers to disengage from the driving task in limited situations, they must:

• Remain alert and capable of taking over driving duties when prompted
• Be prepared to intervene within a specified timeframe if requested
• Determine when activation of the automated driving mode is appropriate

The driver is still a crucial part of the driving loop at Level 3. They are effectively a co-pilot, able to cede active driving to the system but cannot treat the vehicle as self-driving or become disengaged over extended periods.Level 3 systems require an effective human-machine interface to safely transfer control between the driver and system. Challenges include ensuring mode awareness, prompting drivers to re-engage when needed, and implementing proper emergency fallback responses.13While offering more automated driving capabilities than Level 2, Level 3 systems are still limited. Drivers must remain responsible and attentive at all times, ready to intervene when the operational design domain is exceeded or other conditions require human control.