Assisted driving not self-driving, police say

No automobile currently being sold in China can be called self-driving, an official with the Ministry of Public Security said on Wednesday, warning drivers of the serious risks involved in allowing assistance systems to take control of their vehicles.

"From what we've learned, the smart driving systems in the cars being sold in our country right now don't have the self-driving function," said Wang Qiang, director-general of the ministry's Bureau of Traffic Management.

These systems are designed only to assist drivers, Wang told a news conference in Beijing.

"If drivers take their hands off the wheel or their eyes off the road... they will face serious safety risks," he said.

Drivers could face compensation claims, administrative penalties or even criminal charges if accidents occur from misusing driver assistance systems, Wang said.

Police will strengthen oversight of automakers to improve regulation of the "smart driving" sector, he said.

They will work with other departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, to ensure companies fully verify the capabilities of their driver assistance functions, clarify their limitations and establish clear safety measures, he added.

Authorities will also urge companies to avoid exaggeration and false advertising and improve training for new users on how to operate driver assistance features, Wang said.

China will explore ways to include the use of driver assistance systems in driver training and tests, among other measures, he said.

For now, assisted driving does not equal autonomous driving, Wang said, urging drivers to understand how the assistance functions work and how to activate and deactivate them.