"The agency also analyzed the crash rates in model year 2014-2016 Tesla Model S and 2016 Model X vehicles and found that the crash rate dropped by almost 40 percent after Autosteer was installed."
So... that would be a GOOD thing, right?
"But Teslas that have Autosteer also have automatic emergency braking (automatic emergency braking was added in a few months before Autosteer in 2015), which the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says reduces rear-end crashes by 40 percent. Consumer Reports has follow-up questions into NHTSA about how much of the Tesla crash decline might be attributable to automatic emergency braking."
Yes, and both Autosteer and automatic emergency braking are inherent aspects of Autopilot, as noted in the initial presentation on October 9, 2014 by Tesla, right?
"The Tesla crash caused safety advocates, including Consumer Reports, to question whether the name Autopilot, as well as the marketing hype of its roll-out, promoted a dangerously premature assumption that the Model S was capable of truly driving on its own. Tesla's own press release for the system announced "Your Autopilot has arrived" and promised to relieve drivers "of the most tedious and potentially dangerous aspects of road travel." The release also stated that the driver "is still responsible for, and ultimately in control of, the car.""
So, your issue is more one of an English journalism lesson than one of technical expertise then, right?
"Consumer Reports believes that these two messages—your vehicle can drive itself, but you may need to take over the controls at a moment’s notice—create potential for driver confusion. It also increases the possibility that drivers using Autopilot may not be engaged enough to to react quickly to emergency situations."
Well, to [BLANKETY] [FLOCKING] [HECK] with what you believe! You guys had a knee-jerk reaction and posted your
'beliefs' too early and with substandard practices. You should have waited until... Oh, perhaps...
NOW to tell the world what you...
'think'.
"In general, though Consumer Reports supports technology that advances the consumer interest, the independent, nonprofit organization believes in a careful balance of innovation and safety."
Yeah, well, whatever... Howzabout using some of that
'careful balance' in your reporting in the future?
"NHTSA's Thomas said the agency was interested in nurturing new safety technologies, and it wanted to encourage innovation even as different automakers experiment with different methods. Eventually, the industry will settle on best practices. In the meantime, the agency will continue to investigate and take action as necessary, he said."
So, basically, they told you guys to shut the [FLOCK] up and mind your own [DURNED] business. Good.