More or less Tesla’s autopilot is not as safe as Tesla would have you believe.
They’re running a beta test to the general public - only the thing they’re testing is a 2 ton ball of metal and explosive material regularly traveling at 45 mph (70 kmh). They even have the gall to charge for the ability to beta test it. I really hope this gets regulated at some point, otherwise this is just the beginning
I’m shocked it isn’t already regulated. I get it’s a developing technology but cars can be murderous.
Where I am, SAE Level 3 is banned as in you need authorization to test it out on public roads but SAE Level 2 is allowed. There are also SAE Level 5 vehicles in operation today, they’re just on private roads/property and nearly all of them are regulated, it’s just under workplace safety laws instead of driving laws.
IMO, this is the problem. Any normal person doing this would be in prison. Something like automated driving should be strictly regulated. I own a Mach-e, and while its self driving features are limited, it errs so much on the side of caution that you cannot not pay attention to the road. As it should be.
Maybe a controversial opinion, but I’m glad they are charging for it. I wish there were a better way to vet who gets to be beta testers, but at least by charging money, they are ensuring only people who care about the technology get to use it.
Maybe I’m jaded, but it seems like drivers, in general, have gotten worse post-pandemic, and I wouldn’t trust 90% of them with autonomous driving features in the state it’s in.
