I get tremendous use out of the autopilot. It's a fantastic feature. I do a lot of long solo driving and now I get home happy and calm, instead of mentally exhausted.
But there are characteristic situations where it doesn't work well. Things to watch out for. Things I wish someone had told me before I had to learn them for myself. Some of these are things we "ought to know" (because, for example, they happen only on 2-lane roads where we "aren't supposed to be using the autopilot" but many do regardless) while others are less obvious. Here's a short list, in the hope of contributing to safe and happy semi-autonomous driving.
In general, it is safest to hold to the center lane when available, I find, or the left lane if only 2 are available in the direction of travel. Of course, with the Jersey-barrier issues, that can be problematic as well -- you have to know to watch out. Driving with the autopilot has a learning curve just like any other kind of driving.
Those are the things I watch out for. I'm sure there are more -- maybe we can make a master list?
But there are characteristic situations where it doesn't work well. Things to watch out for. Things I wish someone had told me before I had to learn them for myself. Some of these are things we "ought to know" (because, for example, they happen only on 2-lane roads where we "aren't supposed to be using the autopilot" but many do regardless) while others are less obvious. Here's a short list, in the hope of contributing to safe and happy semi-autonomous driving.
- Right lane on roads with exits - autopilot is prone to follow fog line off exit rather than lane divider line.
- Intersections - even with no traffic, even just roads entering from the side, or forks: various problems, including a form of the above (autopilot follows fog line partway through right turn when center line stops)
- Next to hard dividers (Jersey barriers): watch out for the left lane on these roads, the autopilot will creep right and crowd other drivers in the center lane (or worse). In general, the AP seems to try much too hard to avoid fixed obstacles and cannot maintain proper lane position when next to them.
- Terrain angle changes, particularly next to hard dividers: hilltops or sudden bumps in the road can trick the autopilot into veering from the right or left lane into the center lane.
- Autopilot doesn't know the difference between double yellow lines and dashed lines, so: watch that left turn! On 2-lane roads, if you carelessly leave the autopilot engaged while following another vehicle at low speed, then signal a left before hitting the brake, the autopilot can "change lanes" and accelerate across the double line into oncoming traffic when what you meant to do was stop and turn.
- Construction zones: just turn it off when you see that orange sign. Please.
- Left-hand exits, splits or forks in divided highways: if you see one coming, get at least one full lane away, or turn off the autopilot; it *will* screw up.
In general, it is safest to hold to the center lane when available, I find, or the left lane if only 2 are available in the direction of travel. Of course, with the Jersey-barrier issues, that can be problematic as well -- you have to know to watch out. Driving with the autopilot has a learning curve just like any other kind of driving.
Those are the things I watch out for. I'm sure there are more -- maybe we can make a master list?