Now a Third Tesla Crash Is Being Blamed on Autopilot | Hacker News Reader

Now a Third Tesla Crash Is Being Blamed on Autopilot

roadandtrack.com

16 pointsdmckeon10 comments

Information on the incidents in Montana and Pennsylvania seems minimal at this point, but may I suggest the phrase "Darwin mode" to describe the decision to engage the beta version of Autopilot without being continuously ready to take over driving?

Perhaps Tesla need to be a bit more aggressive with enforcing contact with the steering wheel. My Passat will straight up tell at me after 20ish seconds of not touching the wheel.

I know Elon wants to keep defending himself but really it's something Tesla can prevent.

Not autopilot's fault, as evidenced in part by driver being issued a ticket for careless driving:

http://electrek.co/2016/07/12/tesla-model-x-autopilot-accide...

Because it was his fault. It is written in manual to be ready to take the wheel and he was given warning about increasing uncertainty, yet he kept hands off the wheel at a canyon. The only way he could be more guilty if he was drunk.

Blaming autopilot for crash is akin to blaming guns for murder.

You guys are really pushing the line hard, huh?

This autopilot problem is entirely user's fault. Tesla never promised complete driverless experience. It is users who have the idea of autopilot being a replacement for driver. It's not. Just because it was in public consciousness and imagination for decades, it doesn't make it real. People are imagining autopilot being different than it is.

Only "fault" from Tesla is not being more clear about what the autopilot is for.

Also what I would do, at least until they make it better, is to raise the threshold of uncertainty after which the autopilot stops working and human driver is required. Just stop the car and force the driver to take the wheel.

Maybe they should consider different marketing semantics than "autopilot".

I guess "partial driving assistant" doesn't sound as good, but might be a better term.

I saw a suggestion for 'co-pilot' which seemed like an apt name.

I agree, autopilot is a glorified cruise control with lane keeping.

Well, same can be said about human driver too. Main point is that it isn't supposed to be 100% reliable yet.

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