We get into a new car, spot a “Lane Assist” button on the steering wheel, and nothing happens when we press it. The function is there, the vehicle comes equipped with it as standard, but no one has explained how to make it operational. This is the most common situation with autonomous driving and advanced assistance systems: the hardware is present, but the activation remains unclear.
ADAS Calibration After Windshield Replacement: A Often Overlooked Step
Before even discussing software activation, we need to address a concrete hardware issue. Since July 2022, new vehicles sold in Europe must include a minimal set of driving assistance systems: front camera, radars, automatic emergency braking, lane keeping.
These sensors are mounted on or near the windshield. After a windscreen replacement, ADAS camera calibration must be performed for lane keeping, automatic braking, or adaptive cruise control to function correctly. A simple oversight in calibration can make the aids less reliable or even silently disable them.
Specifically, when picking up your car after a visit to the auto glass shop, you should ask for the calibration report. If the mechanic does not provide it spontaneously, that’s a warning sign. A detailed article on autonomous driving on Been Online reviews the steps to check before getting back on the road with recalibrated ADAS systems.
Without this calibration, you end up with a vehicle that displays active assistance icons on the dashboard, but whose sensors are pointing a few degrees off. Emergency braking may engage too late, or lane keeping may correct in the wrong direction.
Levels of Vehicle Autonomy: What the Driver Really Needs to Do
We often read “autonomous driving” without distinction. The levels of autonomy, defined by the SAE standard, radically change what is expected from the driver.
- At level 1, the system manages a single task (acceleration or steering), and the driver remains in control at all times. This is the adaptive cruise control alone, for example.
- At level 2, the vehicle combines steering and acceleration/braking. You keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. This is the case with Nissan’s ProPILOT or Volvo’s Pilot Assist.
- At level 3, the driver can divert their attention under certain conditions (traffic jam, highway), but must regain control when the system requests it. Switzerland has allowed this type of supervised driving since 2025.
- At levels 4 and 5, the vehicle manages everything within a defined perimeter (level 4) or without restriction (level 5). These levels are not yet available for the general public in France.
Activating a level 2 system never exempts you from monitoring the road. Manufacturers use interior cameras to check that the driver remains attentive. If you look away for too long, the system issues an alert and then deactivates.
Software Activation of Autonomous Driving: Subscription or Purchase
On many recent models, the hardware (sensors, cameras, radar) is installed at the factory, but the advanced functions remain locked. Activation occurs through a subscription or a one-time purchase via the vehicle’s screen or the manufacturer’s app.
At Tesla, the FSD (Full Self-Driving) system is offered as a paid option. In Europe, its deployment remains limited and supervised. The European FSD operates only in supervised mode, meaning the driver must keep their hands on the wheel. Belgium and Finland are among the first European countries to have authorized supervised autonomous driving versions of Tesla.
At Jeep, the hands-free active driving assistance works via a paid subscription, with a three-year trial period included at purchase. The system only operates on mapped and compatible roads.
Check Compatibility Before Paying
Before subscribing to a service, check three points: the exact model of the vehicle and its year, the hardware version of the onboard sensors, and the geographical coverage of the service. Feedback varies on this point, as some drivers find out after payment that their usual driving area is not covered by the hands-free system.
European Regulation and Autonomous Driving in France: What Changes in 2026
The regulatory environment is evolving rapidly. In June 2026, the UNECE approved in Geneva the first international text governing autonomous vehicles from levels 3 to 5. This global framework sets requirements for cybersecurity, traceability of system decisions, and liability in case of incidents.
At the same time, two new driving aids will become mandatory in July 2026 for new cars in the European Union. These systems add to the GSR2 baseline already in place since 2022. For the driver, this means that even an entry-level vehicle purchased after this date will include assistance functions that need to be learned and sometimes temporarily disabled when they interfere with driving.
Stellantis, for its part, has announced a partnership with Pony.ai to deploy robotaxis in Luxembourg, a sign that level 4 autonomous driving is coming to Europe through commercial fleets, not private vehicles.
Disabling a Driving Aid: A Gesture to Know
Each manufacturer places the controls differently. On some models, a long press on a button on the steering wheel is enough. On others, you need to navigate through the menus on the central screen. Take the time to locate these controls before driving, not in the middle of a turn. The vehicle manual remains the most reliable source to identify the exact manipulations, model by model.
Autonomous driving is not just about pressing a button. Between hardware calibration after a windshield intervention, choosing the right software subscription, and understanding regulatory limits, each step conditions the actual functioning of the system. Mastering these points before hitting the road is what determines whether the assistance fulfills its role or remains a dormant function on the dashboard.