I activated the AP trial a month or so ago and then turned it off before the trial was over. Last week I was delighted to read about lane keep assist (LKA) for all cars ... and turned it off after a day of use. My problem is that my preferred driving habits clash with AP. I tend to drive in the right hand lane, and to the right hand side of the lane to boot. AP hates my driving habit. She may be right, but it is not the way I want to drive. I took to calling the car "the nag" but the last straw was AP interfering with my attempt to give wide berth to a bicyclist.
You are right to stay in the right-most lane at all times, unless for passing.
That is the law in many civilized countries and US states, though not in Cali, and not for Tesla Nav on AP (NAP).
AP usually defaults to hugging the traffic dividing yellow line, which is not ideal for many reasons in many situations. However, it would have been helpful in giving extra room to well-mannered bicyclists who should be peddling on the shoulder of the road. If you've got the types that like to drive in the car lane, then I feel your pain.
At this point the only assist feature I miss is radar assisted cruise control. I may yet turn on LKA during long trips.
AP isn't perfect, at all, but on the balance, I find it a net positive feature.
You do have to learn about its (undocumented) limitations and failure modes, and guard against those. Which can be tricky, as over-relying and over-trusting AP can lead to too many near-misses.
You probably shouldn't be using autopilot on any road that also has bicycle traffic, unless there's a designated (and wide enough) bike lane.
If you follow the letter of the TM3 manual, you should not use CC + AP under all of the following scenarios:
- Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is designed for your driving comfort and convenience and is not a collision warning or avoidance system.
- Although Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is capable of detecting pedestrians and cyclists, never depend on Traffic-Aware Cruise Control to adequately slow Model 3 down for them.
- Do not use Traffic-Aware Cruise Control on city streets or on roads where traffic conditions are constantly changing.
- Traffic-Aware Cruise Control cannot detect all objects and, especially in situations when you are driving over 50 mph (80 km/h), may not brake/decelerate when a vehicle or object is only partially in the driving lane
- Traffic-Aware Cruise Control may be unable to provide adequate speed control because of limited braking capability and hills. It can also misjudge the distance from a vehicle ahead.
- Never depend on Traffic-Aware Cruise Control to adequately slow down Model 3 to avoid a collision.
- Autopilot [..] unable to function as intended on Narrow or winding roads.
To summarize - don't use CC + AP if roads are winding or narrow, if pedestrians or cyclists or other cars are present, if traffic is present (when are traffic conditions not changing!
), or at above 50 mph.
Basically, you should only EVER use CC + AP it on a totally empty straight highway, when no other cars are present, but only if you drive below 50 mph.
This is not meant to be a joke.
Even if you think it reads as such.
These are quotes from TM3 manual.
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P.S.: I didn't even get to list Auto Steer or NAP limitations.
