GENEVA

Automated driving will be permitted in several areas of Switzerland starting in March next year, the country's Federal Roads Office announced Friday.

The new regulations, effective March 1, will allow drivers to release the steering wheel and use autopilot on highways, provided they remain ready to take control if prompted by the system, the authority said in a press release.

Autopilot use will also be permitted on other officially approved routes, though specific roads where it can be activated will be determined by individual Swiss cantons.

Under the new rules, driverless vehicles must be monitored by a control center operator, who can intervene if the system encounters a challenge it cannot resolve independently.

"The use of driverless vehicles can be particularly attractive for freight transport and for covering the 'last mile' in passenger transport," said the office in the statement.

It highlighted that vehicles with automation systems require type approval, and manufacturers must prove their systems ensure road safety and smooth traffic flow.

“In addition, manufacturers must provide comprehensive evidence of how road safety and traffic flow can be guaranteed,” it added.

Automated parking will also be allowed from March 1, but only in designated and clearly marked parking areas, determined by cantons or municipalities.