uk666 5,298 Report post Posted May 31, 2018 Tesla Model S hits police SUV while in Autopilot mode Are drivers placing too much faith in Tesla's Autopilot feature? What just happened? There’s been yet another crash involving a Tesla vehicle that was in Autopilot mode. This time, a Model S driver hit a parked police SUV in Laguna Beach, California. While the driver of the vehicle sustained minor injuries, the cruiser was unoccupied at the time of the accident. Sgt Jim Cota, the public information officer for the Laguna Beach police department who tweeted about the incident, told The Guardian that the SUV was a “complete total loss,” and that the Tesla’s front end was “pretty beat up.” “It [the SUV] was mangled up pretty good. It took out the whole back end and halfway through the canter part of the vehicle. There’s axle damage. It wouldn’t be worth repairing,” he said. This is the latest crash involving a Tesla where the Autopilot feature was engaged, and marks the third time this year that one of the vehicles has hit a stationary emergency vehicle while in Autopilot mode. A driver in China is thought to have been the first person killed while using Autopilot, back in January 2016. In June that same year, Joshua Brown was the first person in the US to die while using the feature. A Model X hit a highway divider while in Autopilot mode in March, killing driver Walter Huang. Tesla said its own investigation showed Huang kept his hands off the wheel despite the vehicle’s warnings. NHTSA and the National Transportation Safety Board continue to investigate the case. Last week, Tesla settled a class-action lawsuit brought by six Model S and Model X owners who alleged that the Autopilot system was “essentially unusable and demonstrably dangerous.” Tesla's settlement didn’t mention the safety allegations but was instead paid out to compensate owners over the delayed Autopilot updates. A Tesla spokesperson said: “When using autopilot, drivers are continuously reminded of their responsibility to keep their hands on the wheel and maintain control of the vehicle at all times. “Tesla has always been clear that autopilot doesn’t make the car impervious to all accidents, and before a driver can use autopilot, they must accept a dialogue box which states that ‘autopilot is designed for use on highways that have a centre divider and clear lane markings’.” Failing to detect stopped vehicles is a known problem for makers of cars with autonomous features. Tesla’s manual warns: “Traffic-Aware Cruise Control cannot detect all objects and may not brake/decelerate for stationary vehicles or objects, especially in situations when you are driving over 50mph (80kmh) and in situations where a vehicle you are following moves out of your driving path and a stationary vehicle or object is in front of you.” But some owners continue to leave the driver’s seat when it is activated, including a UK man who was caught on video sitting in the passenger seat while his Tesla did the driving. Tesla Model S hatchback Price £67,635 - £127,135 ($74,500 - 135,000) Full Self-Driving Hardware on your Model S Electric All-Wheel Drive Specs Charging Universal Mobile Connector with 7.4 kW capable blue industrial adapter (230V, 32A) and 2.3 kW capable 3-pin domestic adapter (230V, 10A) Access to Tesla's expanding Supercharger network Home Charging Installation Interior 17" capacitive touchscreen On-board maps and navigation with free updates for 7 years Automatic keyless entry Wi-Fi and Internet connectivity Mobile app remote control Retracting door handles One touch power windows High definition backup camera Hands free talking with Bluetooth Voice activated controls FM/DAB+ and Internet streaming radio Auto dimming mirrors Soft LED ambient interior lighting Lighted door handles Power folding, heated side mirrors with memory Two USB ports for media and power 12-volt power outlet Twelve-way power adjustable, heated front seats with memory and driver profile Front trunk (no engine!), rear trunk, and 60/40 folding rear seats with 894 litters of storage Safety Active safety technologies, including collision avoidance and automatic emergency braking, have begun rolling out through over-the-air updates Electric All-Wheel Drive for maximum efficiency and traction Daytime running lights Three-position dynamic LED turning lights LED fog lights Six airbags: head and pelvis airbags in the front plus two side curtain airbags Electronic stability and traction control Four-wheel antilock disc brakes with electronic parking brake Two second row ISOFIX attachments for child seat installations (accommodates three child seats simultaneously: two with ISOFIX and one with top tether and belt) Premium Upgrades adds HEPA air filtration system Premium Sound System 11 speakers with neodymium magnets Heated seats throughout the cabin Heated steering wheel Wiper blade defrosters Washer nozzle heaters 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites