AVSC best practice documents are the result of information sharing and collaboration between industry members. They represent an agreement on the topics that are most relevant to the safe development and deployment of automated vehicles. AVSC members agree on WHY these topics are important, and WHAT the resulting recommendations are while leaving to the individual developer HOW to implement these best practices within their organization. 

April 2024

This AVSC best practice was first published in 2020 and has been revised to cast expanded role definitions, rearrangement of use cases in Section 4 based on severity of risk, re-creation of Table 4 in 5.4 as a checklist and moved to Appendix B, as well as clarification of sections, examples, and terms throughout the document. This document outlines interactions between first responders and ADS-DVs (SAE level 4 and level 5).  It builds on earlier work done by the Crash Avoidance Metrics Partners (CAMP), detailing three types of interactions first responders may encounter: direct, indirect, and informational.  In addition, a standardized framework with recommendations for an interaction plan is laid out for ADS developers, manufacturers, and fleet operators which may assist first responders in both emergency and non-emergency situations involving ADS-DVs. 

Nov 2023

Remote Assistance (RA) is a useful tool in supporting the operation of Automated Driving System-dedicated vehicles (ADS-DVs). It can enhance or complement the existing ADS system features, particularly in scenarios that exceed ADS design capabilities by providing timely remote support to vehicles without taking direct control of the vehicle. This best practice provides guidance to ensure that RA is safer, more reliable, and more effective in ADS-equipped vehicles.

Aug 2023

This best practice outlines an approach which involves comparing the on-road driving behavior of ADSs to that of human drivers, aiming to gain a deeper understanding of ADS behavior and its implications. It includes an assessment that centers on the predictability and similarity of ADS behavior relative to observed human driving behavior. By adopting this approach, a more comprehensive evaluation of the performance of ADS fleets can be achieved. It empowers developers to identify areas for improvement and potentially unknown unsafe behaviors.

July 2023

Successful scaling of automated driving system (ADS) technology and realization of its full potential will require developers and service providers to continuously monitor performance of their fleet and enact prompt improvements should issues arise. ADS developers and manufacturers can use the data collected from vehicles in active deployments (e.g., safety performance data) to proactively confirm initial risk assumptions and feed other safety management processes.Continuous monitoring of the automated driving system-dedicated vehicles (ADS-DVs) makes it possible to identify and address new risks related to changes in the environment. This also means the validity of operational design domain (ODD) related assumptions is periodically assessed.

April 2023

Making risk management decisions such as safety and change management, safety analysis, and safety assurance are especially applicable when moving from concept to production intent for the ADS-DV. Change Risk Management (CRM) does not replace best practices or other methods for managing safety anomalies or change management processes.

Aug 2022

As the number of ADS-DVs on the road increases, so will the amount of interactions between ADS-DVs and VRUs. It is important that ADS manufacturers reasonably account for the complexity, variety, and other challenges associated with VRU detection and response. 

Nov 2021

There is value in assessing a set of behavioral competencies as directional indication of safety performance. Elemental behaviors can be used as starting point for additional assessment.

July 2021

Managing the operational safety risks during testing is an important aspect of SAE Level 4 and 5 ADS development. A Safety Management System (SMS) is one approach designed to support organizational safety in a systematic and integrated way.

Mar 2021

Credible, practicable, and consistent ways to measure ADS performance are essential to garner public trust and confidence. Several ways have been put forward, but not widely adopted. Measuring safety outcomes is a complex task; requiring considerable time and exposure to achieve statistical significance.

Sept 2020

Addresses data collection for event analysis for lessons learned from critical driving scenarios (i.e., what an ADS “saw” and the actions it took). Efficiently and consistently identifying safety issues for deployed vehicles is important to gaining the trust and confidence of the public.

June 2020

No standards or industry guidance currently address passenger control (agency) for emergency reasons completely unrelated to the ADS’s ability to perform the Dynamic Driving Task (DDT).

April 2020

A description of an ADS Operational Design Domain (ODD), commonly defined terms and a framework in which to apply them are fundamental to promote consistent communication and help ensure that users’ ADS expectations are aligned with capabilities.

Nov 2019

In-vehicle fallback test drivers (IFTDs) contribute to safety during testing and therefore must be thoroughly trained on the automated driving system, the intended operational design domain, and controlling the vehicle to minimize risk.