Tesla Crashes Into A Cop Car While Driver Was Watching A Movie

Some of you may recall how a week or so ago I had to defend myself from angry Tesla-stans regarding my statements about how Level 2 semi-automation—the level of autonomy where Tesla’s Autopilot operates—sucks. It sucks because the sort of vigilance tasks demanded of the not-really-driving driver are fundamentally incompatible with how humans behave. In case you need proof of this, just this morning fate provided us with one, as a guy watching a movie in his Tesla on Autopilot slammed into a cop car. Yep, a cop car. What a moron.

dlin - 8/27/2020 1:49:08 PM

+3 Boost

So this guy attacked officer with much bigger and lethal weapon than a knife, and he's not shot to death?

How do you know he's not intentional?

atc98092 - 8/27/2020 2:18:49 PM

+2 Boost

I agree that using the name Autopilot at this level of functionality is wrong. But this is just another case of a stupid person completely ignoring everything they've been told they can and cannot do while using AP. I think the cars that have a camera to watch the attentiveness of the driver is probably the right way to go until full autonomy is achieved.

F1_Driver - 8/27/2020 7:45:02 PM

+3 Boost

Autopilot is not ready for prime time just as EVs are not ready for the masses.

skytop - 8/27/2020 9:47:02 PM

+2 Boost

What IDIOT watching a movie while driving their car. They deserve the entire weight of the law to collapse down on them. Their insurance company will teach them a painful financial lesson as well.

SanJoseDriver - 8/28/2020 12:39:00 AM

+1 Boost

Agree it is stupid to think you can watch a video while driving. It's also worth mentioning this is a car with Mobileye Autopilot V1, making it even more stupid.