Tesla Blames Autopilot Fender Bender On Driver For Not Paying Attention

Last week, we reported an accident in China that took place while the driver was using the Autopilot feature on his Tesla Model S. The accident was a fender-bender, and both cars drove away after it occurred. The Model S sideswiped a vehicle that was stranded on the leftmost lane of a highway.

 However, Tesla’s Autopilot system still got the “mandatory flak” from Internet users, and the driver of the vehicle blames both the American company, and its local sales staff.

 Luo Zhen, the 33-year-old programmer that was in the driver’s seat of the Tesla Model S, has claimed that the sales team promoted the system as “self-driving,” and that this is why he expected the automobile to be capable of avoiding the impact alone.

atc98092 - 8/11/2016 5:21:39 PM

-3 Boost

Driver not understanding the technology, coupled with sales staff promoting the technology as capable of more than it can really do. Read the manual!

t_bone - 8/11/2016 6:54:21 PM

+3 Boost

That's got to be a stressful driving experience - knowing that at random intervals you've got to take over. Like teaching a student driver, every time you use the car. No thanks.

MDarringer - 8/11/2016 7:00:56 PM

+5 Boost

They call the damned thing A U T O P I L O T ! ! !

What should a driver assume?

Damn Tesla to Hell.

xjug1987a - 8/12/2016 9:06:33 AM

+7 Boost

Sounds like Hitlary blaming everything on the "vast right wing conspiracy"...

hangtime010 - 8/12/2016 9:32:16 AM

-3 Boost

Even in planes when the pilot uses autopilot they have to be aware of their surroundings, with the co-pilot at the ready and watching the gauges. This in an environment where there's no "traffic" compared to the roads.
And that's been in use for decades.
What do these morons think when driving a car. That they can sleep or play pokemon go while just as many idiots are driving around them?
If people use this tech like those using ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) then we wouldn't have these stupid accidents.
Maybe Tesla should have a legal disclaimer that drivers must agree to before autopilot is engaged.