Safe Drive Initiative: SafeDI scenario-based AV policy framework – an overview for policy-makers

The Safe Drive Initiative (SafeDI) provides a four-phase framework—Prepare, Define, Measure, and Execute—for regulators to validate AV safety. It advocates for the creation of a multistakeholder Centre of Excellence (CoE) to define safety milestones and behavioural competencies. Rather than prescribing technical solutions, the framework uses a graduated approach where AVs must demonstrate proficiency in increasingly complex scenarios (routine, critical, edge cases, and long tail) across simulation, controlled environments, and on-road testing before achieving full commercial deployment.

• The SafeDI framework is based on the hypothesis that an AV's operational safety is determined by the specific environment in which it is deployed, making the assessment vehicle- and solution-agnostic.
• The framework recommends a graduated approval process where AVs progress through interim milestones, expanding their operational design domain (ODD) as they demonstrate maturity.
• Regulators are encouraged to establish a multistakeholder Centre of Excellence (CoE) to bridge the gap between government oversight and industry expertise, with Singapore's CETRAN cited as a leading example.
• Safety assessment is conducted using a scenario-based approach, categorizing traffic situations into routine scenarios, critical scenarios, edge cases, and the 'long tail'.
• A comprehensive validation programme must combine three testing modalities: simulation-based assessment, controlled environment testing (such as test tracks), and naturalistic on-road testing.
• To manage unexpected scenarios or system failures, the framework requires the verification of independent mechanisms that can bring the vehicle to a minimal risk condition.
• Post-deployment safety is managed through the ongoing monitoring of safety performance indicators (SPIs), focusing on leading metrics like sensor failure rates rather than just lagging metrics like crash reports.

APA

World Economic Forum (2020). Safe Drive Initiative: SafeDI scenario-based AV policy framework – an overview for policy-makers. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Safe_DI_AV_policy_framework_2020.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. Safe Drive Initiative: SafeDI scenario-based AV policy framework – an overview for policy-makers. 2020. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Safe_DI_AV_policy_framework_2020.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=Safe Drive Initiative: SafeDI scenario-based AV policy framework – an overview for policy-makers |date=November 2020 |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Safe_DI_AV_policy_framework_2020.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2020safe, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{Safe Drive Initiative: SafeDI scenario-based AV policy framework – an overview for policy-makers}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2020}, month = nov, url = {http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Safe_DI_AV_policy_framework_2020.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }