Management of Safety Risk in Automated Driving Systems

Automated Driving Systems (ADS) hold great promise for improving safety by helping prevent crashes resulting from human error. However, ADS developers need to demonstrate they are effectively managing new safety risks posed by mechanical and system failures—failures that may result in severe outcomes without mitigation by a driver. Proactive management of safety risk in the design, testing, demonstration, and deployment stages of ADS development can ensure continuous reduction in safety risk and build public trust over time.

This paper details the potential benefits of establishing a formal program to manage safety risks in the ADS industry where hazards are systematically identified and analyzed, and unacceptable risks are mitigated and monitored through collection of relevant safety data.