[Atlant]

Tesla behind eight-vehicle crash was in ‘full self-driving’ mode, says driver

Tesla behind eight-vehicle crash was in ‘full self-driving’ mode, says driver
San Francisco crash is the latest in a series of accidents blamed on Tesla technology, which is facing regulatory scrutiny

Tesla has repeatedly said its self-driving technology requires active driver supervision. Photograph: Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images

The driver of a 2021 Tesla Model S told California authorities the vehicle was in “full self-driving mode” when the technology malfunctioned, causing an eight-vehicle crash on the San Francisco Bay bridge last month.

The crash on Thanksgiving Day resulted in two juveniles being transported to hospital and led to lengthy delays on the bridge. The incident was made public in a police report on Wednesday.

It is the latest in a series of accidents blamed on Tesla technology. The electric automaker’s chief executive, Elon Musk, has heavily promoted “Full Self-Driving” (FSD) software, sold as $15,000 add-on to Tesla vehicles, but it faces legal, regulatory and public scrutiny.

After the San Francisco accident, the driver told police the FSD software malfunctioned.

The police report said the vehicle was traveling at 55mph when it shifted lane but braked abruptly, slowing the car to about 20mph. That led to another vehicle hitting the Tesla and a chain reaction of crashes, according to Reuters.

However, police were unable to determine if the software was in operation or that the driver’s account was accurate. The report was made public after a records request.

The crash occurred hours after Musk said Tesla would make FSD software available to anyone in North America who requested it. It previously offered the system only to drivers with high safety scores.

The police report said that if FSD malfunctioned, the driver should have manually taken control. Tesla has repeatedly said its advanced self-driving technology requires “active driver supervision” and its vehicles “are not autonomous”.

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[PANZERidIV]

I for one am always at the ready for when “self-driving” does something stupid. But I think some people buy a Tesla and think they can just kick it like George Jetson. 🛸

 

[IslandLarry]

1) Being ready to take control is kind of hard, when the first (and last) indication of a problem is the vehicle suddenly braking.
2) There is never an excuse for rear ending the car in front of you no matter how hard it decelerates.

 

[GreyID4]

Is this the reason why Tesla is tanking today?

 

[Nai3t]

2) There is never an excuse for rear ending the car in front of you no matter how hard it decelerates.

Yeah but abruptly changing lanes then slamming on the brakes gets filed under the category of "How flubbed up is flubbed up? That's pretty flubbed up."

 

[Froggy]

Full Self Destruct, Fleece Some Dummies.

 

[Froggy]

I have seen some mighty messed up driving by youngsters lately, merging in a diagonal direction across 3 lanes of traffic while slipping through 50 foot gaps in traffic(New Orleans) comes to mind.

 

[ChrisL]

2) There is never an excuse for rear ending the car in front of you no matter how hard it decelerates.

If the driver in front swerves into your lane less than a couple of car lengths in front of you and then immediately decelerates from 55 mph to 20 mph, I think you'd have an excuse.

 

[p__x]

If the driver in front swerves into your lane less than a couple of car lengths in front of you and then immediately decelerates from 55 mph to 20 mph, I think you'd have an excuse.

this is why one needs a dashcam.

BTW, this is where Elon would say something along the lines of some and some bad grammar, some and some prosecute?

 

[johnwelch62]

Tesla will say "Autopilot was not engaged at the time of the accident". But that's because they turn it off before impact. And while they may turn it off for other valid reasons (revert to human control, etc), they will still make the statement without any qualifications. Very misleading.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/06/15/tesla-autopilot-crashes/

"The new data set stems from a federal order last summer requiring automakers to report crashes involving driver assistance to assess whether the technology presented safety risks. Tesla‘s vehicles have been found to shut off the advanced driver-assistance system, Autopilot, around one second before impact, according to the regulators."

 

[VW TECHNICIAN]

1) Being ready to take control is kind of hard, when the first (and last) indication of a problem is the vehicle suddenly braking.
2) There is never an excuse for rear ending the car in front of you no matter how hard it decelerates.

There is....abrupt braking for ne reason are not good for you or people behind you, especially if behind you is Class 8 truck that will kick you like soccer ball in this scenario. Good distance is impossible to make in heavy traffic conditions or when vehicle is changing lines and from nowhere slams on the brakes.

 

[wildpitcher]

Is this the reason why Tesla is tanking today?

No, Tesla stock is tanking because they announced $7500 discounts on model 3s and Ys, indicating a slowing of demand. Less demand, fixed costs = no bueno

Dave

 

[VW TECHNICIAN]

No, Tesla stock is tanking because they announced $7500 discounts on model 3s and Ys, indicating a slowing of demand. Less demand, fixed costs = no bueno

Dave

They have lost on capital gains more than all major manufacturers together....stock holders are not happy...and this is just beginning...selling EV in 60+k territory are not going to move a lot of vehicles from the factory that needs to run 24/7/300+ days.

 

[JoeFJ]

In terms of driver assist, I have stopped using as I find that when I have do have to take over my “”feel” for the brake pedal and accelerator isn’t as precise as if I had been driving in manual. I also feel as if I fatigue more. That said lane assist and emergency braking are benefits for me.

When I was in college, I would work for a moving company that transported cross country. We always kept a window open a bit too hear the truck and “lived in the mirrors” as we had to anticipate as much as we could as evasive maneuvers and short breaking we’re always Ill advised. Still drive with a window open just a bit!

The excuse the car just did it is a result of giving control away to a computer application!

 

[Atlant]

In terms of driver assist, I have stopped using as I find that when I have do have to take over my “”feel” for the brake pedal and accelerator isn’t as precise as if I had been driving in manual. I also feel as if I fatigue more. That said lane assist and emergency braking are benefits for me.

I've mentioned elsewhere that for an experienced driver, the cognitive load of monitoring the computer and constantly being ready to take control if it f**ks up is quite a bit heavier a cognitive load than just plain driving.

So I've found it's much more relaxing to just plain drive.

 

[johnwelch62]

No, Tesla stock is tanking because they announced $7500 discounts on model 3s and Ys, indicating a slowing of demand. Less demand, fixed costs = no bueno

Dave

Tesla is down almost 69% over the past year. Bitcoin was a better investment over the same period.

 

[sumjerk]

Having to pay attention to both the traffic and your own car doing something unexpected makes it harder, not easier for the driver.