This article covers some concerns from this thread:
Will concern over Tesla death close self-driving 'loophole'?
It has caught the eye of Congress:
“The tragic Tesla crash shows again the need for aggressive oversight of an industry that has implemented new systems before they are truly tried and tested, " said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn, in a statement. "Whatever the promise of self-driving cars, automakers have failed at even simpler technologies, like ignition switches and air bags.”
Echo this thread's sentiment on "beta":
"No manufacturer should ever put a beta system on the road and make consumers the test drivers," said Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety. Other automakers put millions of miles on major safety systems before they are deemed ready for prime time, he says, including many hours at their own test tracks.
Ditlow said NHTSA's lack of a regulation on self-driving car features amounts to a "loophole" that Tesla exploited.
"If you look at any car, there's a certification label that says 'this vehicle meets all applicable safety standards' and you can't sell it unless you certify that it does," Ditlow said. In this case, there were none of those standards in place.
Whether Tesla has done enough, here's:
"Mark Rechtin, autos editor for
Consumer Reports.
"It's one of things where Tesla needs to do a thorough job of educating the customer," he said. Rechtin said he has tried Autopilot in the Tesla that
Consumer Reportspurchased. It's "limited technology," not yet a true self-driving system, and handy on long stretches of uncrowded highway or during routine driving, he said.
"This is not a self-driving car. It's driving assist," Rechtin said. "And right there on the screen, it says 'beta.' "
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