Autonomous vehicles and driving technologies, characterized by their complexity, are at the forefront of modern transportation advancements. In our article 5G CAM: Revolutionizing Cross-Border Mobility, we highlighted the pivotal role of CAM technology in facilitating vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication, a prerequisite for autonomous driving. These technologies are in rapid development worldwide due to their potential benefits. These include enhancing road safety, alleviating traffic congestion, and reducing CO2 emissions.
Autonomous driving encompasses various developmental directions, relying on sensors to collect environmental information. Complementary devices, such as cameras and GPS, are also integral to data collection. A sophisticated computer unit then processes the data. Envision a fleet of such vehicles navigating collectively – this scenario indeed poses complex challenges requiring rapid, precise responses. While 4G technology suffices for certain traffic situations, the intricacies of more demanding scenarios necessitate the significantly reduced latency of 5G technology. Similarly, our previous work discusses Serbia’s engagement in the European initiative to develop 5G corridors.
In a pioneering move, Serbia has authorized the testing of autonomous vehicles on its roads. With this, it joins innovators like Germany and the United Kingdom. This step was made possible through amendments to the Road Traffic Safety Act and adopting the Rulebook on the Conditions for Conducting Autonomous Driving (“Rulebook”), effective December 2, 2023. The Rulebook delineates the requirements for autonomous vehicle testing and the protocol for obtaining a testing permit (“Permit”). Serbia is among the few countries with legally regulated autonomous vehicles, albeit exclusively for testing purposes.
As per Article 7 of the Road Traffic Safety Act, an autonomous vehicle is a manufactured or modified motor vehicle equipped with an automated driving system (ADS) that conforms to specific technical standards. Consequently, this system allows the vehicle to operate in traffic with minimal or no driver intervention.
According to the Rulebook, an automated driving system (“ADS”) is a combination of hardware and software components that, depending on the automation level, performs dynamic vehicle control within a defined operational range. This range encompasses activities necessary for managing the vehicle in road traffic, including lateral (using steering systems) and longitudinal (via acceleration and deceleration) control, environmental monitoring through detection, recognition, and classification of objects and events, preparing and responding to objects and events, maneuver planning, and increased vehicle visibility using light and sound signaling devices and other signals. The ADS operational range represents a precise environment and road conditions that correspond to the ADS design. In particular, this includes geographic location, weather conditions, time of day, road condition, road category, traffic mode, presence of tunnels, level crossings, and work zones.
Testing focuses on the technical and functional verification of ADS. It can be conducted by a legal entity based in the Republic of Serbia (“Organizer”). The testing process is governed by a permit issued by the territorially competent unit of the Ministry of Interior (“Ministry”). If testing occurs within two or more organizational units, the Traffic Police Administration at the Ministry’s headquarters will issue the permit. A permit can be valid for one or more autonomous vehicles, types L7 (heavy quadricycle, ≤ 400 kg, ≤ 15 kW) with a factory-enclosed body, M1 (passenger vehicle), or N1 (cargo vehicle, ≤ 3.5 t) (see the Rulebook on the Division of Vehicles), up to level 4 of driving automation, for a maximum period of one year. A copy of the permit must be in the vehicle during testing. The driver authorized to conduct testing must present it upon request.
The issuing authority may stipulate specific safety measures tailored to each testing request in the permit. The issuing authority may stipulate specific safety measures tailored to each testing request in the permit. These measures address aspects like test duration, time of day, number of tests, weather conditions, route and destination aspects, driver and passenger protocols, and the driver’s responsibility in monitoring the ADS. The Organizer must halt testing if road safety is at risk or upon breach of any safety measure. Additionally, other measures may apply in accordance with the Road Traffic Safety Act and the specificity of each testing request.
The Organizer is responsible for implementing all safety measures before testing begins. They must maintain a data collection and storage system during autonomous vehicle testing. The Organizer must provide access to or deliver this data upon request for safety verification purposes.
Authors: Žarko Popović
