Police stop Tesla driver 'who fell asleep at wheel while using autopilot'

[Gerald]

Police in the Netherlands say they stopped a Tesla driver after he appeared to have fallen asleep at the wheel while using the car's autopilot feature.

https://news.sky.com/story/police-stop-tesla-driver-who-fell-asleep-at-wheel-while-using-autopilot-11724748

It may well be that this will be more common.

[Platapus]

First and foremost Tesla needs to immediately stop using the term "Auto pilot". This clearly gives people the wrong impression of this capability


Second, Tesla needs to modify their system to require that the driver have at least one hand on the steering wheel while the vehicle is moving.


Third, Tesla needs to modify their code so that if the driver does not have his or her hand on the steering wheel an alarm sounds and if not immediately corrected, the car will automatically slow down and come to a stop at the edge of the road.



To me there are two undeniable facts


1. Auto driving cars are not yet perfected enough to be entrusted on the public roadways at this time


2. People can't be entrusted with a system that advertises itself as either a self-driving car or a car with autopilot.

[Commander Wallace]

I wonder what the Implications will be when and if this system is ever perfected. While, like most people, I don't trust a car that is autonomous.

On the other hand, an autonomous car, if perfected, could alleviate drunk drivers and perhaps those that drive while being drowsy. Drowsy drivers are at least as great a threat on the roadways as drunk drivers.