No autonomous driving system is capable of driving everywhere in every condition. The Operational Design Domain (ODD) formally specifies the environmental, geographical, and speed constraints under which an automated feature is certified. When heavy snowfall or road construction breaks the ODD boundary, the vehicle must execute an automated Minimal Risk Maneuver (MRM), steering onto the highway shoulder without human intervention.
Human factors research demonstrates that a distracted driver requires 5 to 8 seconds to regain situational awareness, orient their gaze, and grasp the steering wheel. Level 3 autonomous driving controllers incorporate a strict 10-second Transition of Control (ToC) timeline. If sensors detect internal occlusion at T=0s, auditory and haptic alerts fire immediately. If driver eye tracking confirms lack of engagement at T=6s, the planner aborts lane keeping and commands the emergency MRM.