I’m sure that many of our readers have by now seen some of the videos posted to YouTube and elsewhere showing some Tesla owners being perhaps a bit careless in their use of the new autopilot function. Going by these videos, does it seem too much of a stretch to say that someone will eventually cause a bad accident this way costing people their lives?
Would Tesla be willing to pull the Autopilot function (probably just temporarily) in such a situation? Interesting questions, especially considering CEO Elon Musk’s stated goal to introduce fully autonomous cars to the market within the near future.
Commenter “ar4c” set off this line of thought in my head with a recent posting on the Tesla Motors Club forums, stating that:
Due to the videos I am witnessing online, I truly feel there will be an AutoPilot/AutoSteer related vehicle crash soon. This is because people simply cannot follow directions, and it affects the safety of not only themselves- but everyone on the road. There is even a video of a complete fool filming from the back seat.
I feel regulators will force Tesla to pull the feature until it can be modified/improved to the point it requires hands-on only operation, and more bugs are worked out. I also think it should use GPS to disable AutoSteer unless its on a known freeway or highway, and not on surface streets. Think about the other idiot who was driving on a 1 lane road and AutoSteer almost killed him and the passengers in the other lane. This is like handing a loading weapon to Simple Jack from Tropic Thunder. Too many idiots are going to mess this up for all of us. My prediction, enjoy the AutoSteer function- because its not going to last.
Also, AutoPark sucks and doesn’t work 99% of the time. Just throwing that in there too.
Some interesting points to consider, though I remain unconvinced myself. Unsurprisingly, many of the other forum members didn’t agree, and offered rebuttals. Here are a few:
“Bmw_b” commented:
How many years since we got Cruise Control in millions of cars which have no sensors whatsoever to detect whether we are fast approaching the car in front of us. It is the driver who must keep an eye and put the foot on the breaks otherwise the car would simply crash into the car ahead. I bought my Mercedes Coupe in 2013. It has has cruise control just like the Merc of 2009 and the one of 2005 and the Jag of 2001 and I believe it started at least as early as the 80s.
Autopilot is a smarter cruise control with detectors. It will break when approaching a slower car and it tries to keep the lane it is driving in. B-t-w a feature you can order in newer Benz for a few years. It is called adaptive cruise control and when you move out of your lane the steering wheel starts to vibrate to alert the driver unless you had activated the indicator. So people just relax, Tesla is neither the first (they just made it a tiny bit smarter), nor they only one. You are already surrounded by millions of cars which do pretty much the same or worse … cruise control with NO sensors.
That’s pretty much my personal take on it as well.
“AIMc” commented on the autopark feature:
As to autopark: I have used it literally 8x….no issues. Parks in a space I would probably not try on my own.
A point reiterated by many of the other commentators as well.
And, finally, “Bill r” noted:
Tried autopilot from Seattle to park city. Had a problem while driving in the right hand lane. Auto stearing wanted to vear towards the exit road. It took a tight grip on the stearing wheel. This problem needs to be addressed..
Hmm. That’s certainly a potentially dangerous issue there. Given that the system is quite new it isn’t surprising though — though presumably Tesla will be able to fix the issue… Comments?
Either you drive or the car drives. That’s the big difference with a dumb cruise control: in this latter case, you know you can’t get distracted, there is just an automation of speed control. To have a car that apparently drives on its own but actually you don’t know exactly when and how it will give up, is a terrible idea. Same goes for the difference between a lane departure warming and a self steering.
People will get hurt. This whole idea of self driving is a huge legal and HMI mess. Either I can trust it 100%, in all weather and conditions, or give me back the wheel and don’t pretend I can get distracted, because I can’t. It’s not the self driving car that will impress me, a disclaimer-less self driving car will.
I think the principle problem is calling the thing “auto-pilot.” It should have been called “lane keeping” or something a lot blander. It’s a disaster waiting to happen i fear and Tesla will cop a lot of flack for someone elses stupidity – they think just because Tesla is aiming to build a self-driving car, then that means they’re already sitting in one.
Yes. The autopilot function will get pulled.
Why can’t people spell?? I’d expect more from people who are wealthy enough to afford a Model S. They should be better educated and know the difference between “break” & “brake”.
It’s really quite surprising to me. Notice it a lot on the TMC forum from people (in the US) who have decked out Teslas. Don’t even get into grammar….
It must be noted that ar4c was banned since he turned out to be an obnoxious troll.
Thanks. Good context. Didn’t know that.