Another Tesla Owner Reports Autopilot Crash - Wasn't This Feature Supposed To Eliminate This From Happening?

A driver blames Tesla’s Autopilot gadget of a slow reaction time that made his electric car rear-end another vehicle.

The technological offensive in the automotive industry has given headaches to certain drivers, both literally and figuratively. Just a few days back, there were some reports about a Tesla Model S owner from Utah who claimed the car’s Summon feature forced the vehicle right into the back of a trailer. The company swiftly responded to such accusations, blaming back the driver of improper use of the system. Now, a new crash has been reported, as another Model S rear-ended a vehicle on a motorway in California while the Autopilot was engaged
 

mre30 - 5/17/2016 11:15:18 AM

0 Boost

Sorry for being cynical...but perhaps Telsa should be "beta-testing" its autopilot feature in a country with a different legal system than the US. China perhaps?

The Tesla autopilot system seems to be half-baked and at some point may very well likely mow-down a crowd of pedestrians! Lawyer's everywhere are salivating, although at that point, Tesla might not have any money left to pay legal settlements. Can they go after Musk personally?

TomM - 5/17/2016 3:33:43 PM

+2 Boost

No- Musk is not personally responsible. The corporation is Tesla - and he is just a Stock holder. One would have to prove that Tesla and the Stockholders violated the rules of incorporation to go after the stockholders - which is really really rare in a corporation of that size and with the number of stockholders.

atc98092 - 5/17/2016 11:16:21 AM

+5 Boost

It is caused by people that think it can do more than it does. They never should have used the term "autopilot" because that implies it is capable of safely assuming control. No, it's not.

TheSteve - 5/17/2016 4:30:41 PM

+2 Boost

Correct (and +1). The Tesla offering is merely a "driver assistance" system; not an autonomous driving system. It requires the driver to be attentive, alert, and ready to take control at any moment.

During the development of their autonomous car systems, Google determined that driver assist systems actually increased the number of accidents because... no surprise... drivers became inattentive, expecting the system to behave autonomously when it was never designed to. It appears Tesla is repeating Google's discoveries and lessons rather than learning from them.

hangtime010 - 5/17/2016 12:25:59 PM

0 Boost

Isn't the "driver" responsible for their vehicle? If I use "autopilot" I am still expected to ensure the safety of myself, occupants in my car and the people/cars/environment around where I drive.
People want automakers to develop systems that'll take the "thinking" aspect out of driving. Wasn't it recently that someone followed their GPS into a lake??? They couldn't see that their car was going towards a lake in front of them?
These people need to take a bus if they don't want to be responsible for their actions.

MDarringer - 5/17/2016 7:06:42 PM

+1 Boost

@hangtime010, don't say that here. People here are wildly in favor of abdicating responsibility and then--most likely--playing the victims of the company as they sue the companies' asses off to line their pockets. Perversion, harlotry, and immorality I call it.

MDarringer - 5/17/2016 7:04:34 PM

+1 Boost

I love the emperor's new clothes people who make excuses for Tesla's PR hype that is betrayed by their lack of engineering ability.

hangtime010 - 5/18/2016 9:37:51 AM

+3 Boost

@ringer, yeah I hear you. but it's getting so frustrating to keep reading these stories of incapable drivers blaming the car/manufacturer for them being so stubborn. The lawsuit against Porsche comes to mind.
Stupid is as stupid does.

Don't blame the manufacturer.

7msynthetic - 5/18/2016 3:32:56 PM

+2 Boost

Well I remember when Toyota execs said that this tech was still in its infancy but Mr. Musk thinks otherwise. Guess he needs to put away some $$ for potential lawsuits.....wait a minute?....Tesla HAS no cash, lol!!

mpls - 5/20/2016 6:28:12 PM

+1 Boost

I remember that, Toyota also said that before true auto pilot becomes mature, it'll be introduction of more safety systems, information gathered from car-to-car communications fed into aids that assists driver, not only to act for the driver in certain situations but to compliment the driver.
On the otherhand, Tesla thinks it can run before it can walk !!