This Tesla Autopilot Crash Shows Why You Still Have To Pay Attention In Semi-Autonomous Cars
Semi autonomous cars are not perfect. Classified as Level 2 Autonomy, they’re a stepping stone to a future which - whether we like it or not - may not require a driver at all. But for now with semi-autonomous systems like Tesla’s Autopilot and Volvo’s Pilot Assist, the squishy bit behind the wheel is still very much needed. Case in point? The accident in the video above, which happened near Dallas, Texas recently.
The driver posted pictures of the aftermath up on Reddit, explaining that his car had hit a barrier while his Model S 70D was running on Autopilot. Coincidentally, another Reddit user browsing the thread had a link to some dashcam footage taken from the car behind, which showed the full nature of the crash.
What it seems the original poster hadn’t mentioned initially is that he traveling through roadworks at the time, and that the accident happened where a concrete barrier cut across the lane, arguably too suddenly and without enough warning. It’s unfortunate that the Tesla’s front collision warning system didn’t react to the barrier, but at the same time, you can see why Autopilot assumed it needed to keep on going straight, given the road markings.
Crucially, had the driver been as alert as you’re supposed to be when behind the wheel of a semi-autonomous car - and as alert as Tesla itself tells you to be - he’d have been able to avoid it himself. As a silver lining, the driver at least escaped serious injury.
Source: Reddit via Electrek
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
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Hehe you cheeky Electrifying pun which you edited.
If the future is gonna end up with cars like this then just kill me already
True, i won’t trust such a car.
Atleast he used his hazards
That is one Smokey Tesla.
Coolant leak tends to smoke like.. Alot ;)
Looking on the brightside he probably got a high score on candy crush
Straight to the top sir!!!
I don’t understand why people praise Tesla’s Auto pilot feature when in reality that system already existed in cars decade older than Tesla itself and are surprisingly equally better. :/
Like fords “Drift mode”
What cars?
I’m SHOCKED by that crash!
Okay I’ll show myself out
AI and machine learning how it is being done nowadays are still very young technologies. It will take some time before all cars become autonomous
That’s the proof that you can’t trust on self-driving cars.
pretty soon, all cars will have autopilot in them, and everyone’s gonna use it all of the flipping time…..
I am sure the truth of semi autonomous cars HIT him quite hard.
I will show myself out.