I installed 2022.44.30.5 (FSD 10.69.25.1), my first experience with the FSD beta, in December. When I bought FSD capability in 2019, I didn’t believe that I would ever see the hands-free driving, robo-taxi, get-in-the-back-seat-and-go hoopla. I bought it because I tend to keep a vehicle for 10-20 years. I expected that as I age and my driving abilities (might?) become reduced, the driving abilities of the car will improve.
So far, I have been both impressed and terrified. It’s abilities to navigate impress me. It’s faulty decision making terrifies me. At times I feel like I am being driven by a 16 year old learner. Fair enough, I guess that is what it is. But at times it feels like the 16 year old has had a couple of drinks as well.
There is one intersection where the FSD beta has repeatedly tried to drive through a red light. At the same intersection it has tried to stop at the green light when there was no traffic nearby. There are controlled intersections where there are two left turn lanes. The FSD beta seems to always go into the left of the two lanes, even when it knows that it has to make a right turn within a hundred meters or less after the left turn. The car can’t manage that because the human drivers who are making the immediate right turn are all in the correct lane. I have to take over.
Just as I would be highly vigilant if I were with a 16 year old learning driver, I find that I am highly vigilant when driving in FSD mode.
Having said these things, I am happy with the progress that Tesla is making on the FSD software. When people blame the FSD beta software for accidents, I think of the advisories that Tesla gives repeatedly. The driver must remain vigilant and be ready to take over immediately.