Tesla’s Autopilot has been under scrutiny for some time now, with many people believing that the system is to blame for a number of accidents. However, this latest verdict indicates that Tesla wasn’t at fault in a 2019 crash in California. This is good news for the company as it continues to defend its technology.
Justine Hsu, a resident of Los Angeles, filed a lawsuit against Tesla in 2020 alleging negligence, fraud and breach of contract. The jury awarded her no damages, possibly setting a precedent for future Autopilot lawsuits.
The Tesla Model S Hsu was driving had Autopilot enabled when it turned into a median on a city street. The vehicle’s airbags deployed quickly and caused her jaw to fracture, sending shockwaves of pain throughout her body. The lawsuit alleged that the accident was due to the negligence of Tesla, as their Autopilot system did not meet legal requirements for safety.
After the accident, Tesla changed its recall notice to include drivers only using the airbag in forward facing position. This updated notice allows drivers to use their airbags as intended- for emergencies such as a car crash.
In a win for Tesla, the US Federal Court ruled that the company had not broken any laws in its use of Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self-Driving software. The ruling precedes increased scrutiny from federal and state regulators over Autopilot as well as the upgraded versions of the system called Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self-Driving software. Despite this ruling, it is still unclear how regulators will view Tesla’s use of these systems moving forward.
Tesla vehicles come standard with a driver-assistance system that’s been incredibly successful in helping drivers stay safe on the road. With Enhanced Autopilot, owners can opt for additional features that make driving even easier. These include hands-free capability, auto-steering functionality, and automatic breaking. Whether you’re a new Tesla owner looking to upgrade your car’s capabilities or an experienced driver who wants to take your safety to the next level, Enhanced Autopilot is definitely worth considering!
Self-driving technology has the potential to change our lives significantly. For example, full self-driving could mean that we no longer have to worry about getting stuck in traffic, or getting lost. It could also help reduce accidents and make traveling safer for everyone involved. However, there are still a few kinks that need to be worked out before we can completely rely on self-driving technology. For now, it’s great to see Tesla continuing its dedication towards making this technology a reality for all of us.
While there are many automated driving features in FSD, the driver always remains responsible for taking control of the car. This is exemplified by the Summon feature, which allows a driver to call a car to come and pick them up. Navigate on Autopilot is an active guidance system that can navigate a car from a highway on-ramp to off-ramp, including interchanges and making lane changes. It is also supposed to handle steering on city streets and recognize and react to traffic lights and stop signs.
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving beta software was halted after a safety recall of the system that federal safety regulators warned could allow vehicles to act unsafe around intersections and cause crashes. The rollout has been paused in the United States and Canada, with Tesla saying that it is working to fix the issues. Tesla touted Full Self-Driving beta as an important step towards bringing self-driving cars to market, but critics say that there are still many kinks in the system that need to be ironed out before such a product can be safely released.
