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Why Waymo is Level 4, not Level 5, despite an empty driver seat

Waymo vehicles can drive through city streets without anyone in the driver’s seat, but they are still classified as Level 4 rather than the top Level 5, the article says. The key distinction is not whether a person intervenes, but whether the system can operate without limits. Under SAE standards, Level 4 allows fully autonomous driving only within defined areas and conditions. Level 5 requires the removal of all boundaries, including location, road type and weather.