Slashdot Mirror
Tesla's Autopilot Mode Reportedly Saves Pedestrian's Life (electrek.co)
An anonymous reader writes: Following reports of Tesla's Autopilot mode being linked to a fatal crash, one Tesla Model S owner is reporting that the Autopilot mode has likely saved a pedestrian's life. The driver sent an email to Elon Musk explaining the situation, which was confirmed by Tesla through the vehicle logs: "I wanted to let you know that I think my car probably saved the life of a pedestrian last night, 7/16 around 10:30pm when I was driving in Washington DC with my daughter." The driver says him and his daughter were trying to locate where sirens were coming from "when a pedestrian stepped out in front of [their] Model S in the dark with dark clothes and in the middle of the road." The car slammed on its breaks before he could and "stopped just inches from hitting the pedestrian." The driver said, "I am not sure if I would have been able to stop before hitting him but I am so glad the car did." The Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), which is standard on all Tesla vehicles and is part of Tesla's Autopilot mode, is what was at work here. It appears that many of the convenience features of Autopilot were not activated at the time of the incident. This is likely the first of many good press stories released by Elon Musk, who said he would consider releasing the stories of accidents prevented by the Autopilot mode with the authorization of the Tesla owners and by confirming the events through the vehicle logs. Elon Musk did also announce Tesla's 'Master Plan, Part Deux,' which includes new kinds of Tesla vehicles, expanded solar initiatives, updates on Tesla's 'autopilot' technology, and a ride-sharing program.
Isn't it interesting how a bad thing like an accident with autopilot turned on is the drivers fault, but a good thing is the software's fault. You can't have it both ways.
I saw this happen in broad daylight. A woman started crossing in a crosswalk the instant the light turned green for the cars, thus blocking them. There were only cars in the right lane and a car approached the left lane and continued (since he had a green light) and the woman stepped out in front of him and got hit. The driver stopped and the lady was taken away in an ambulance. In this case I'd blame the woman since she crossed when the crosswalk said "don't walk" and there is no way the driver could have seen her.
A few months later I was driving home late at night and the same thing happened. A person wearing dark clothing waited until the signal said "don't walk" and I waited for the idiot to cross. Another car came through in the other lane and the guy missed getting creamed by only a few inches. Again, the light had been green for some time and the idiot waited until just after the cross light turned red like he had a death wish. Too many times I've seen stupid pedestrians crossing when it's not safe to do so.
Also, as a driver I too would be distracted by sirens, trying to find the source of them. No driver can look ahead all the time, i.e. checking the mirrors. If someone claims that they're always looking ahead they're either lying or a really bad driver.
This post is encrypted twice with ROT-13. Documenting or attempting to crack this encryption is illegal.
Actually, the shutter snap sound in digital cameras was optional when they first came out. It was only until enough women complained about men surreptitiously taking upskirt pictures that the sound was made mandatory.
I can see the value in adding some kind of noise to an electric vehicle, particularly for the visually impaired. This pedestrian, however, did not follow the exceedingly simple rule we all learn as children: look both ways. But to err is human, and walking into a street before actually looking is something we've all probably done. Momentarily averting your eyes from the road directly in front of you is something I know we've all done. So semi-autonomous driving saves the day, and no one has to be labeled an inattentive jerk.
Perhaps the noise added to electric cars could be something pleasant or natural sounding. A particular bird song or something. Is that a nuthatch or an electric car? I should look both ways just in case.
I'm sorry, but your opinion seems to be wrong.
The sound isn't mandatory.
The sound is mandatory in Japan and Korea.
1. Women there are more likely to wear skirts.
2. Men there are are more likely to be perverts.
3. Crowded trains and elevators offer many photo ops.
You will notice, if you click the link, that the entire basis for this story is an email from someone named "Larry". Show of hands: who thinks Elon Musk is above having a staffer make up this email or making it up himself? Tesla stock has been bouncing up and down in a mostly flat range for a year now, since his cars have become a regular sight on the roads. He needs this to take off, and the poor fit and finish and cheap interiors of Teslas is turning off a lot of potential customers.
Tesla does not have a good record of repeat customers, either. People who buy a new car every year are not buying a second Tesla.
You are welcome on my lawn.