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Self-Driving Tesla Owners Share Videos of Reckless Driving (nytimes.com)
An anonymous reader writes: The driver killed in a Tesla car accident "celebrated the Autopilot feature that made it possible for him to cruise the highways, making YouTube videos of himself driving hands-free," reports the New York Times, adding that one of his videos of a near-miss went viral just 11 weeks before his death -- after it was shared on Twitter by Elon Musk. But USA Today reports that Tesla drivers have also filmed themselves playing Jenga and Checkers or sleeping while using the autopilot feature. "Even though Tesla tells drivers to 'keep your hands on the wheel at all times and stay alert,' the temptation to test a no-hands drive is just too much."
In April, a Volvo driver had criticized Tesla for releasing a dangerous "wannabe" Autopilot system. But when Tesla introduced the self-driving feature in October, Elon Musk argued that "Long term, it'll be way better than a person. It never gets tired, never has something to drink, never argues with someone in the car." He had also said that within three years Tesla cars should be able to drive a sleeping driver in to work -- but that that functionality is not currently supported.
In April, a Volvo driver had criticized Tesla for releasing a dangerous "wannabe" Autopilot system. But when Tesla introduced the self-driving feature in October, Elon Musk argued that "Long term, it'll be way better than a person. It never gets tired, never has something to drink, never argues with someone in the car." He had also said that within three years Tesla cars should be able to drive a sleeping driver in to work -- but that that functionality is not currently supported.
Go see the videos for yourself
...adding that one of his videos of a near-miss went viral.
Context mincing BS, the near miss was a truck haphazardly changing lanes without looking into the teslas lane... the tesla avoided the accident, but this is phrased to be intentionally interpreted as the exact opposite.
His other stupid video showing "reckless" driving is pretty stupid looking and cringeworthy but it's actually on a private road. I think the autopilot is actually pretty dangerous and incorrectly interpreted as "self driving" as others here have stated, but that's no reason for this crude BS article that reads like it's been paid for by the defence lawyers.
I drove my Tesla with autopilot for a month. It works great in 2 situations: 1) wide open road, good lane markings, light traffic and 2) stop and go in traffic jams.
It truly is horrible in the following situations:
1) where lane markings are faded or confusing (road construction, lanes have been moved)
2) where traffic is moderately dense, and there are curves - the system cannot see far enough ahead to anticipate the curves, so you wind up with abrupt maneuvers
3) where someone is merging from either side - sometimes it works , sometimes it freaks out
4) on twisting mountain roads, with good lane markings
5) where you are right next to the median barrier (e.g. carpool lanes)
In the latter case, small lateral changes in the barrier position (e.g. from a overpass column embedded in the median barrier) can trigger *exciting* steering wheel inputs as the car attempts to avoid running into the barrier. If one is commuting in the carpool lane at reasonable speeds (>40 mi/hr), one had best keep one's hands on the wheel and one's eyes open waiting for the "ding dong" that tells you the autopilot gave up and it's "Jesus take the wheel" time.
I found it more stressful to drive with autopilot on than with it off.
The big flaw is that the forward looking system isn't smart enough - it does not anticipate turns far enough ahead - this is really obvious on a mountain road with lots of turns: it goes into the turn fast, realizes that the road bends, and tromps on the brakes to get the speed down so it can make the turn. Then it speeds up coming out of the turn. You're never sure if it's going to be able to do it.
In traffic, it tends to "follow the car in front", which is good if the lane markings are poor, but if there's a bend in the freeway, it's not so good - again, it's the abrupt "I've got to turn now" action.
The adaptive cruise control is awesome - smooth handling of speed in heavy traffic from 0 mi/hr all the way up to 70-75 mi/hr. The lane guidance not so much.