ADAS Levels Explained With Examples

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, or ADAS, combine active and passive safety features to reduce the human error component on the road. They range from basic systems that help with parking to advanced systems that can almost drive the car for you. These systems are classified into levels from zero to five, with each level representing a higher degree of automation.

It is encouraging to see ‘Made in India’ cars feature this safety technology and match global standards. From Rs. X lakh to Rs. X lakh, this blog has a collection of some of the best cars that come with ADAS on board. Let us understand what different ADAS levels have to offer:

ADAS Levels Explained

Level 0 - No Driver Automation

Features: At this level, the driver is entirely responsible for the operation of the vehicle. The driver has control although there may be systems in place to help them. An example would be the emergency braking system. Consequently, it does not qualify as automation since it does not operate the vehicle.

Level 1 - Driver Assistance

Features: Basic assistance like adaptive cruise control or lane-keeping assist. The driver must remain in control and monitor the driving environment.

Cars with Level 1 ADAS

Level 2 - Partial Automation

Features: The car can control both steering and acceleration/deceleration, but the driver must keep their hands on the wheel and be ready to take over at any moment.

Cars with Level 1 ADAS

Level 3 - Conditional Automation

The driver can sit back and relax as the system handles everything — acceleration, steering, and braking. However, inputs from the driver may be required at intervals

Features: The car can handle all aspects of driving in certain conditions, but the driver must be ready to take over when requested by the system.

Cars with ADAS Level 3

Reports suggest that the BMW 7 Series will be featuring a Level 3 ADAS suite. Watch this space for a confirmed report.

Level 4 - High Automation

Level 4 vehicles are designed to stop in case of a system failure and may warn the driver if it is approaching its operational limits.

Features: The car can drive itself in specific conditions or environments and no driver intervention is required. This level is still largely experimental and not widely available in regular consumer cars.

Cars with ADAS Level 4

 No models listed here are fully equipped with Level 4 automation; however, future models may incorporate more advanced systems.

Level 5 - Full Automation

The vehicle can drive itself in all conditions without a driver.

Features: The car can operate fully autonomously under all conditions, and no driver input is needed. This is the ultimate goal of autonomous driving technology but is not yet available in consumer cars.

Cars with ADAS Level 5

No current cars in the Indian market, including those listed, have reached this level.

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