Sleeping while driving a Tesla

[The Growler]

Originally Posted by AndreF

I wonder how the RCMP got the car to pull over and stop. Did they have to wake the idiot up?

In a similar case, the occupant had been drinking and couldn't be woken up. Two police cruisers stopped the car by blocking it in on one side and the front and slowed down until it stopped. Sensing the two vehicles, it stayed in its lane and braked to avoid the one in front.

[Tico]

Break a law, go to jail.

[RedJoker]

I have a neighbor with a tesla and he freely admits that it's a better driver than him.

I'm curious to see what the safety cross-over point will be before these will be widely used. Some will say it has to be perfect but realistically, it only has to be "better" than a human driver. The actuarials will figure out the financial liability point.

[Neil K Walk]

Originally Posted by Tico

Break a law, go to jail.

The line is getting blurry though. Isn’t the goal to take the human element out of driving altogether? The idea of this has been around since the early 1980s when the TV show Knight Rider introduced the concept. It’s not unlike Star Trek introducing the idea of the cell phone or the microwave oven or its Next Generation introducing the iPad or artificial intelligence. You would think that the response times of a computer would be faster - especially if the driver is under the influence or extremely fatigued?

The only problem I see is that the driver set the parameters above the posted speed limits. Even if you figure in “wiggle room” for going over the limit though we’re talking speeds in excess of 85mph.

Reclining the seat takes the cake though. That’s just plain ignorant, but in this day and age I have to say I can’t be surprised.

[imwjl]

As shocking as the story sounds, and US data I'm more familiar with, it was only the pandemic that knocked accidents from #3 cause of death. Thus my now long running feeling this technology is still our friend.

It might also be easier to understand where the autonomous driving features are and will be with some experience. I have friends and family with Teslas, and we've had two cars with semi-autonomous driving features in their safety systems. Less capable than Tesla but a good idea of how reliable they are compared to humans.

Some of my work tasks and emergency pages are always reminders of how many are out there driving when a robot would be a better choice. When I have overnight planned outages or emergency pages it's often driving when I'm at or needing to be at peak levels of having my senses and you really see those who don't. That really shows if I'm on task around bar time, or get a page at rush our times.

If I recall, we are less than a year from AEB (automatic emergency braking) in all new cars. There are more robots driving than many realize.

[KevWind]

I'll have to ponder this more and get back (to the future)

Seriously I am not sure what I think about it

[hubcapsc]

Your thoughts?

Sleeping while driving a Pinto?

-Mike

[Denny B]

I think that technology, no matter how advanced, will always be subject to humans who are too ignorant or arrogant to not interfere or misuse the technology...

I believe that these incidents are evidence to what I've always said:

"Nothing is foolproof to a talented fool..."

[Methos1979]

I remember a story from a short while back where a Tesla driver was killed when their car that was auto-driving got 'confused' when I tractor trailer with an all white trailer pulled in front of it and the Tesla computer couldn't interpret it as an obstacle. Or something along those lines. I don't believe the driver was asleep, possibly just reading but not paying attention. I do remember that he was a former Navy SEAL and would brag to his friends about letting the car auto drive. Tesla admitted there was a programming issue that need to be tweaked and reiterated to owners that they should always remain alert. But what others have said is true - programming gets better and better and at some point in the not too distant future cars doing all the driving will be the norm and accidents will be less likely when the human factor is removed.

[Mycroft]

Originally Posted by fitness1

I hope the manufacturer of the first self driving car that runs into me has very deep pockets.

I'm not a litigious person by nature, but I truly believe there are things we are just plaing taking too far.

Which is pretty much a usual reaction whenever a new technology comes along. Just imagine the dangers inherent in a horseless carriage that can go 50 MILES AN HOUR!!!!

[hairpuller]

That’s bad, but not as bad as a couple in the motorhome who put on cruise control and went back to make sandwiches.
Scott

[Tico]

Originally Posted by Mycroft

Which is pretty much a usual reaction whenever a new technology comes along. Just imagine the dangers inherent in a horseless carriage that can go 50 MILES AN HOUR!!!!

I hope you're not arguing that all new technology eventually proves to be good.

[Brucebubs]

Confiscate the fuse.

[rokdog49]

Can’t say what I want...forum rules.
I can say this...utopia isn’t achievable. For every technological step forward, a heavy price will be paid.
That is a fact.

[Slothead56]

Is it a coincidence that auto driving cars arrive at the same time as phone obsessed people? I don’t know....maybe that’s a good thing.