Challenging the Silences: An analysis of SAE J3016 as a classification System

Bowker and Star's (2000) approach provides a conceptual toolbox for analyzing a wide array of collective human social entities, their actions, discourses, and related nonhuman elements in various situations (Clarke & Star, 2008, p. 122). This study employs Bowker and Star’s analytical tools to examine SAE J3016, a seminal standard that delineates the roles and distinctions between human drivers and driving automation, by specifying levels of automation and driving authority in autonomous vehicles (AVs). SAE J3016 marks a substantial progression in the deployment of autonomous vehicles (AVs), primarily through its taxonomy work. This taxonomy establishes a common language essential for developers, academic researchers, and policymakers. However, an important consequence of this process is its influence on societal determinants and human behavior.