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posted by Fnord666 on Sunday November 04 2018, @07:04AM   Printer-friendly
from the shouldn't-it-be-auto-driver? dept.

Submitted via IRC for Bytram

Another Tesla with Autopilot crashed into a stationary object—the driver is suing

Earlier this month, Shawn Hudson's Tesla Model S crashed into a stalled car while moving at about 80 miles per hour on a Florida freeway. Tesla's Autopilot technology was engaged at the time, and Hudson has now filed a lawsuit against Tesla in state courts.

"Through a pervasive national marketing campaign and a purposefully manipulative sales pitch, Tesla has duped consumers" into believing that Autpilot can "transport passengers at highway speeds with minimal input and oversight," the lawsuit says.

Hudson had a two-hour commute to his job at an auto dealership. He says that he heard about Tesla's Autopilot technology last year and went to a Tesla dealership to learn more.

"Tesla's sales representative reassured Hudson that all he needed to do as the driver of the vehicle is to occasionally place his hand on the steering wheel and that the vehicle would 'do everything else,'" the lawsuit claims.

Tesla blames driver in last month's fatal crash with Autopilot engaged

But that description of Tesla's Autopilot system is not true. While the system can handle a range of driving conditions, it's not designed to stop for parked cars or other stationary objects when traveling at highway speeds. This year, at least two other Tesla drivers have plowed into parked vehicles while their cars were in Autopilot mode (one of them sued Tesla last month). Another Tesla customer, Californian Walter Huang, was killed when his Tesla vehicle ran into a concrete lane divider at full speed.

"It is the driver's responsibility to remain attentive to their surroundings and in control of the vehicle at all times," a Tesla spokesman told Ars by email. "Tesla goes to great lengths to provide clear instructions about what Autopilot is and is not, including by offering driver instructions when owners test drive and take delivery of their car, before drivers enable Autopilot and every single time they use Autopilot, as well as through the Owner's Manual and Release Notes for software updates." (I've reproduced Tesla's full emailed statement at the end of the story.)


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  • (Score: 1) by Sulla on Sunday November 04 2018, @02:45PM (3 children)

    by Sulla (5173) on Sunday November 04 2018, @02:45PM (#757618) Journal

    This to me sounds like the people who sued red bull because it didn't give them wings. When listening to Tesla PR they tout how great it is but they also are pretty careful with their words. Musk says that the cars are "getting better" and "the best out there", that does not translate to "perfect self-driving machine". When you are in a vehicle flying down the road at 55mph you are still responsible for paying attention. It is fine to let an autopilot take care of most of the work for you but you should still have your eyes on the road.

    I did not rtfa but what was this guy doing when he as driving the car? Was he just watching as the crash happened rather than brake himself? Was he watching and hoping the car would brake for him? Was he just surfing the net and not paying attention to the road? I believe regardless of what the folks at Tesla says, there are probably regulations in California regarding what you must/must not be doing when you are driving.

    --
    Ceterum censeo Sinae esse delendam
  • (Score: 3, Funny) by number11 on Sunday November 04 2018, @04:19PM (1 child)

    by number11 (1170) Subscriber Badge on Sunday November 04 2018, @04:19PM (#757650)

    I did not rtfa but what was this guy doing when he as driving the car?

    From tfa:

    Hudson says he was "relaxing during his commute"

    That may be a euphemism for "taking a nap".

  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by legont on Sunday November 04 2018, @04:41PM

    by legont (4179) on Sunday November 04 2018, @04:41PM (#757656)

    He should claim that the mere existence of the autopilot permanently reduced his alertness and ability to drive; which is most likely true for the whole population.

    --
    "Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.