Virginia authorities have determined that a Tesla was operating on its Autopilot system and was speeding in the moments leading to a crash with a crossing tractor-trailer last July that killed the Tesla driver. The death of Pablo Teodoro III, 57, is the third since 2016 in which a Tesla that was using Autopilot ran underneath a crossing tractor-trailer, raising questions about the partially automated system's safety and where it should be allowed to operate. The crash south of Washington remains under investigation by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which sent investigators to Virginia last summer and began a broader probe of Autopilot more than two years ago.

Virginia sheriff’s office says Tesla was running on Autopilot moments before tractor-trailer crash::Virginia authorities have determined that a Tesla was operating on its Autopilot system and was speeding in the moments leading to a crash with a crossing tractor-trailer last July that killed the Tesla driver. The death of Pablo Teodoro III, 57, is the third since 2016 in which a Tesla that was using Autopilot ran underneath a crossing tractor-trailer, raising questions about the partially automated system’s safety and where it should be allowed to operate. The crash south of Washington remains under investigation by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which sent investigators to Virginia last summer and began a broader probe of Autopilot more than two years ago.

  • RememberTheApollo@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    11 months ago

    Pilots, at least at the upper echelons, have it drilled into them that they are responsible for the aircraft, their actions in it, and those aboard it. I cannot stress the difference between the casual attitude the vast majority of people view their actions behind the wheel with vs the attitude and responsibility of operating a complex commercial aircraft.

    Autopilot is a generally necessary convenience for operation of aircraft on long flights, for efficiency, comfort, and preventing fatigue…but it gets turned off instantly should safety require it and conditions warrant it.

    In a car? People use it for reading, watching video clips, dozing off if they can get away with it, and letting it drive them right into or cause a wreck.

    The problem isn’t necessarily the system (though Tesla’s FSD is full of problems), it’s the fact that drivers are willfully dumbasses with no real understanding of their car’s system and their responsibilities regarding them.