Beijing - China will tighten regulation and management of intelligent driving as the current intelligent driving systems installed in vehicles have not yet achieved true autonomous driving, an official with the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), said Wednesday.

"The driver remains the ultimate party responsible for operating the vehicle," Wang Qiang, director of the traffic management bureau of the MPS, said at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office.

He stressed that if a driver takes hands off the wheel or eyes off the road while the vehicle is in motion, it not only poses serious traffic safety risks but may also lead to civil liability, administrative penalties, and even criminal prosecution.

To strengthen the regulation and management of intelligent driving, the police will support the refining of laws and regulations to clarify the manual control in Level 0 (no driving automation) to Level 2 (partial driving automation) of vehicle autonomy, Wang said.

China will also encourage vehicle manufacturers to continuously improve the reliability of assisted driving systems, and establish relevant safety technology standards, he added.