Asleep with autopilot on

[SuitNtie]

Moderator note (bmah): The first 26 posts in this thread are the union of posts from two different threads started on the same topic.

Check out this story.
CHP: Drunk driver suspected of using Tesla's autopilot on Hwy 101

Law enforcement using autopilot features thanks to a knowledgeable police officer. I wonder how long it will take the Tesla haters to put a negative spin on it?

 

[Bmac]

Not being familiar with the road, I wonder if it was a restricted access highway or if it had stoplights. If it had stoplights God forbid that he didn't kill someone if there was a red light and autopilot just zoomed through.

 

[tranzndance]

That area is restricted access highway. It seems it would be better for a drunk driver to be using Autopilot vs no Autopilot. I'm surprised that the car would go several minutes without stopping, considering how frequent the "hold the wheel" nags are at 70mph.

 

[Bmac]

That is my issue with the "hold the wheel" nags as I can easily visualize someone dozing with their hand rested on the wheel right by the center post which provides sufficient torque against the car steering itself. That is a possible unguided missile.

 

[Electroman]

Why is this negative? This guy would have been dead and killed someone without AP. .

And it is easier to stop a car running on AP with driver out of action. Simply drive another car in front and slow down.

 

[SuitNtie]

Why is this negative? This guy would have been dead and killed someone without AP. .

And it is easier to stop a car running on AP with driver out of action. Simply drive another car in front and slow down.

Exactly!! Without AP it was a deadly crash.

 

[Chaserr]

That area is restricted access highway. It seems it would be better for a drunk driver to be using Autopilot vs no Autopilot. I'm surprised that the car would go several minutes without stopping, considering how frequent the "hold the wheel" nags are at 70mph.

I wouldn't put it past a drunk driving owner to tie weights to the wheel so he can defeat the nags, this is clearly not someone that puts intelligence and safety above personal convenience.

 

[ecarfan]

https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Drunk-driver-slept-while-Tesla-drove-Hwy-101-on-13435295.php

Article headline should read: “Tesla Auto Pilot saves life of drunk driver asleep at the wheel”.

The CHP were able to safely slow the car to a stop without it crashing because it was on Auto Pilot. If it was a typical car, when the drunk driver fell asleep while driving on the freeway the car would have crashed at high speed and quite likely killed him as well as endangering other drivers on the road.

 

[tranzndance]

I wouldn't put it past a drunk driving owner to tie weights to the wheel so he can defeat the nags, this is clearly not someone that puts intelligence and safety above personal convenience.

That seems like a detail that would have shown up in the article. Even then, Autopilot is still safer than not Autopilot.

 

[mongo]

https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Drunk-driver-slept-while-Tesla-drove-Hwy-101-on-13435295.php

Article headline should read: “Tesla Auto Pilot saves life of drunk driver asleep at the wheel”.

The CHP were able to safely slow the car to a stop without it crashing because it was on Auto Pilot. If it was a typical car, when the drunk driver fell asleep while driving on the freeway the car would have crashed at high speed and quite likely killed him as well as endangering other drivers on the road.

Reverse maneuver, a Tesla stopping non-Tesla (low speed):
Tesla Model S Owner Uses His Car To Stop Unconscious Driver, Musk Picks Up Repair Bill

 

[SilkySmooth]

https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Drunk-driver-slept-while-Tesla-drove-Hwy-101-on-13435295.php

 

[appleguru]

Listening to the audio, sounds like they were planning to use spike strips to stop the car... glad CHP was thinking on their feet and thought to pull in to play in front!

 

[azred]

Fail to see the humor in this story.

 

[Webeevdrivers]

https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Drunk-driver-slept-while-Tesla-drove-Hwy-101-on-13435295.php

So was he asleep with his hands on the wheel? Whats the max time before autopilot kicks out without hands on wheels. Just sayin. Whats the rest of the story.

 

[jmcmill]

After the nag continues it starts to slow you down until the vehicle comes to a complete stop. No way it would go several minutes without some sort of response to the wheel. Perhaps he used a small weighted object on the steering wheel or he feel asleep with his hands on resting on the lower steering wheel and as the vehicle would turn this would add tension to the wheel? Regardless, I can only conclude their had to be some sort of intervention.

Bad decision that will unfortunately yield him international attention.

 

[Snowstorm]

Spike strip may be method of last resort if the driver was resisting, but it would be terrible idea for a sleeping or unconscious driver.

 

[S4WRXTTCS]

Just more proof that the nags feature doesn't measure drive engagement.

Obviously if it autopilot would have slowed the car down to a stop, and it probably would have caused an accident of someone running into him.

Instead he managed to sleep with his hand on the steering wheel just right.

If Tesla didn't have the nag feature this kind of situation would likely be a monthly occurrence. Where either a cop or a citizen stopped a Tesla with a sleeping driver.

 

[Mod3forMe]

I like this part of the story - "Tesla, whose autopilot technology assists in steering, changing lanes and parking, has seen its vehicles involved in several notable accidents in the last few years...."

They the have only 3 other examples of anything going 'wrong'.

 

[acoste]

It was learned the hard way in the railroad industry that drivers can fall sleep and at the same time push a button or pull a handle whenever an audio alert requests it. Just like when someone turns off the alarm before being completely woken up.

 

[acoste]

I like this part of the story - "Tesla, whose autopilot technology assists in steering, changing lanes and parking, has seen its vehicles involved in several notable accidents in the last few years...."

They the have only 3 other examples of anything going 'wrong'.

3 fatalities, but many more major accidents.