Ministry of Public Security to Strengthen Regulations on Intelligent Driving

On July 23, the State Council Information Office held a press conference regarding the 'high-quality completion of the 14th Five-Year Plan'. During the conference, it was revealed that the intelligent driving systems currently sold in China do not possess automatic driving capabilities and remain in the assisted driving stage, meaning that vehicles still require human control, making the driver the ultimate responsible party. If a driver is distracted or not paying attention while driving, such as looking at their phone or even falling asleep, this poses serious traffic safety risks and can lead to civil liability, administrative penalties, and criminal accountability in the event of an accident. Wang Qiang, director of the Traffic Management Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security, stated that the police will work with relevant departments to strengthen the management of intelligent driving in three main areas: First, enhancing management of automobile manufacturers. The Ministry of Public Security will cooperate with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to urge manufacturers to fulfill their responsibilities by conducting comprehensive tests on driving assistance systems, clearly defining system functions and safety measures, and strictly adhering to the Advertising Law to prevent exaggeration and false advertising. They will also ensure that manufacturers fulfill their obligation to inform users and enhance training for new users on how to use and understand the limitations of assisted driving features. Second, improving legal provisions. The Ministry of Public Security, in collaboration with relevant departments, will refine the Road Traffic Safety Law and related regulations to clarify the legal nature of levels 0 to 2 of assisted driving systems and promote the continuous enhancement of technical reliability by intelligent connected vehicle manufacturers. They will also work on integrating standards for automatic driving levels and operational norms for assisted driving into driver education and testing. Third, increasing public awareness. Drivers are always the primary responsible party for road safety. The Ministry will adopt various forms of public awareness campaigns to help drivers understand that assisted driving does not equate to automatic driving, emphasizing the need for comprehensive knowledge of the features and limitations of assisted driving systems during vehicle purchase and use.