You might post this over in the big thread in the X forum. Several locals who commute that route daily are following that one and can maybe answer.
You might post this over in the big thread in the X forum. Several locals who commute that route daily are following that one and can maybe answer.
First of all, there is a difference between the hitting the barrier and killing the driver. The killing the driver part has significant factor in that the attenuation barrier was not reset. A Prius slammed into the attenuation barrier which was properly set up more than a week earlier at 70+mph and the driver walked away.
Second, the human driver with level 2 tech is always, always, always in charge. Once the legal and technological responsibility shifts, there will be a lot of press and discussion about that. Until then, the human driver is responsible. The ADAS system here is just to provide assistance and the driver is to maintain situational awareness. Plenty of people get into accidents and die on the roads without ADAS systems. They fall asleep. They get distracted using their phones, fixating their stare on something else, reading a book, or putting on makeup. Accidents and fatalities happen even without ADAS systems on a pretty regular basis.
Third, there are a slew of circumstances that caused this accident. The poorly marked lanes and no cross-hatching on the split. The way the pavement with the asphalt and concrete is laid out can trick the ADAS system. The time of day with the sun can make visibility even worse. Putting all the blame on the Autopilot system is incorrect on many levels. But it is also correct that the Autopilot system drove Mr. Huang into the concrete barrier.
With ~5 seconds to notice the concrete barrier and realize that the car was drifting out of lane, the driver was clearly not paying sufficient attention. And the earlier warnings about Autopilot provides some indication that it wasn't the first time during this drive that the driver wasn't paying sufficient attention.
Also, I don't understand why the family pointed out that the driver had issues with Autopilot before. That indicates a heightened awareness that the Autopilot system needs to be supervised, especially if this location was specifically pointed out. It makes even less sense that this driver would leave Autopilot unattended if he had difficulties at this location with this technology.
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If what I’m reading regarding the accident is factual (Autopilot Activated – Several Visual and One Audible Hand Warnings – Hands were not on the wheel 6 seconds prior to accident – Driver had 5 seconds unobstructed view of concrete barrier and No Action was taken) then I agree with (Techmaven) 100%.
Being a Retired 767 Captain, I would like to chime in, regarding “AUTOPILOT”.
Having flown with one of the BEST autopilots in service, our favorite saying in the cockpit
Regarding the Autopilot was “WHATS IT DOING NOW” Meaning, the autopilot is doing
something totally unexpected, which is why we always maintained a constant vigil in the cockpit.
We had the luxury of a little more time in the air to correct a situation unlike a Model X traveling 70 mph on the highway. Also you can bet your AS_ if we heard a CHIME or saw a VISUAL WARNING we were correcting the situation, NOW!!
Having never driven a Tesla (Had a model 3 on order for 2 years up till today),
I think the word “AUTOPILOT” in the Tesla Lingo, along with a drivers daily experience using a STABLE, WELL PERFORMING AUTOPILOT might lead to complacency behind the wheel.
PROBLEM IS- Its only takes one Bad road design or crumbling infrastructure and being complacent behind the wheel to end in a tragic accident. I can only imagine how much worse this accident could have been if nearby drivers were also killed in this accident.
When I see YouTube videos of some people driving their Tesla’s with BOTH FEET out the driver’s window, I want to scream because it only takes a FEW to kill a great innovation like AUTOPILOT, for the rest of us.
If the Government says, “OK that’s it, 2 deaths in 2 weeks” (No matter who’s at fault), no more vehicle automation, then a few just ruined a great tool for the rest of us.
Just my Thoughts.