Reasons why this Canadian province prohibits cars with Level 3 ADAS

In a recent development, the Canadian province of British Columbia has imposed a ban on all cars equipped with Level 3 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). This move directly affects vehicles like the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Mercedes-Benz EQS. The updated Motor Vehicle Act in the province now makes it illegal to drive any vehicle with Level 3 ADAS, even if the technology is not actively in use.

The new rule was introduced by the British Columbia government on 18th March and officially came into effect on 15th April. With this regulation in place, driving a vehicle with Level 3 or higher ADAS in British Columbia is now considered illegal. Currently, the only vehicles with Level 3 ADAS on the market are the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class and EQS models. These systems allow drivers to go hands-off and eyes-off at speeds under 64 kmph.

Owners of the affected Mercedes-Benz vehicles are now faced with a dilemma when traveling to British Columbia. Violators of the ban could face fines ranging from CAD 368 to CAD 2,000, or even up to six months of jail time. Despite the ban, the British Columbia government has not completely ruled out the future use of ADAS technology. They mentioned that further testing and policy adjustments are needed before widespread adoption of such systems.

According to the government, these new regulations are aimed at improving road safety and promoting the use of active transportation. The goal is to keep up with evolving technologies in the transportation sector while ensuring the safety of all road users.