World's Readiness for SAE Level 4

Explanation

A presentation analysing how ready 2 different countries in the world are for SAE Level 4. You chose Japan and Matt chose India(?)

Speech Draft:

Title Slide / Japan / 1:

• We will now critically evaluate different countries’ preparedness for SAE Level 4, starting with Japan
• Before asking ourselves how ready Japan is for Level 4, first consider their society makeup that puts them in a unique position. Japan, has the worlds oldest population. Left unchecked, by 2035 over a third of the population will be over 65 years old.

Slide 2:

• With a future of less people able to drive and more people needing driven, the Japanese government recgonises a mobility crisis. And so they’re stepping in and spearheading a society ripe for AV’s.

Slide 3-5:

• Quickly run through the legislation they’ve previously enacted.

Slide 6:

• Fortunately for the Japanese Government, they sit atop technological and road infrastructure that can support their ambitious goals.
• Ranked as having some of the best roads in the world, Japan has spent decades developing the infrastucture that will be useful today.
• The infrastracture for the technology to be tested is already in development. Zones where SAE4 Testing is legal and allowed are being developed, with an expected 40 by 2025, 2 years away.
• There’s also a huge amount of automotive expertise. Japan’s home to Toyota, Honda and Nissan, with Honda actively testing its mapping and ajself driving tech.

Slide 7:

• The final peice of the puzzle is determining how receptive the general public are with AV’s.
• An astounding 92% of Japanese are positive or neutral towards self driving cars.
• The benefits are also clearly well understood. 80% beleive that a reduction in car incidents is likely.
• However the story is not positive. 85% of Japanese are at least somewhat concerned with riding in an SAE Level 4 car.

Slide 8:

• So is Japan ready? Well it’s clear that the government is trying to make it so. There’s supportive legislation and fantastic infrastructure. A supportive population that stands to gain a lot with the success of AV’s definitely helps.
• So Japan seems well on the way and is ready for SAE4, but what about a country with a more difficult path ahead? Well I’ll pass you onto Matt who can talk about… I’ve no idea

Feedback / To Do:

• Include examples of how replacing drivers’ jobs isn’t a net negative to the world.
• …

Research on Japan:

• Japan has some of the world’s best road infrastructure, ranked among the best by the world Bank (source).
  • 5th best according to source
• Stats for Powerpoint on Japan (source)
• It has a history of being progressive with AV. In 2016, they enabled free testing of AV’s on public Japanese Roads, without the need for permits or anything (source, source).
• In 2021, they were the first country to approve SAE Level 3 nationwide when the Ministry of Transport certified the tech on a Honda Legend. (Source)
• In April of 2022, the Japanese Gov’t ok’d use of SAE Level 4 vehicles on (sparsely populated?) public roads (Sources, Source), the law will pass in April 2023. By 2025, there will be 40 “areas” (prefectures?) with these “mobility services”, and 100 by 2030. (Per Japanese Gov’t, source). - “Additionally, the ministry of economy, trade, and industry (METI) has plans for 40 autonomous taxi test sites nationwide by 2025.” (source)
  • Curiously, this legislation also paves the way for Automated delivery robots on sidewalks.
• It currently has vehicles operating at SAE 4 on its public roads. In the town of Eiheiji, a autonomous minibus transports tourists and the elderly alone it’s sparsely populated roads (source). They’re only able to do this thanks to the public research organisation AIST covering the costs and collaborating on research (source).
• The Government has laid out an official roadmap for where it wants to go (source).
• Home to many of the world’s leading automotive companys, for example; Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Misubushi to name a few. These companies actively perform research here to see the growing validity of the field. For example, Honda is currently testing out it’s self-driving car and mapping technology. (source)
• Japan has an vibrant entrepreneurial spirit, looking to take advantage of and utlise the lax laws.