Consumer Reports is asking Tesla Motors to switch off its partial self-driving system named Autopilot, as the feature appears to have been activated during a fatal crash. Consumer Reports has also called for Tesla to fully test all new safety-critical systems before rolling them out to the public and issue clearer guidelines to owners on how the system should be used.
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Washington, July 1, 2016 (AFP) -It could be a wakeup call for the self-driving vehicle movement.
In a letter to CEO Elon Musk, the South Dakota Republican expressed interest in, among other things, the automaker’s “efforts to ensure the Autopilot technology was deployed safely in this instance”. He added that “manufacturers must educate consumers not only about their benefits but also their limitations”.
Tesla did not immediately respond to PCMag’s request for comment. Mr. Musk tweeted, “Onboard vehicle logs show Autopilot was turned off in Pennsylvania crash. Moreover, crash would not have occurred if it was on”. The Pennsylvania State Police said on Tuesday that the Tesla driver, Albert Scaglione of Farmington Hills, Michigan, had been charged with careless driving.
Consumer Reports also wanted the Autopilot feature name changed to avoid giving a false sense of security about the car’s ability to drive itself. “The driver is still responsible for, and ultimately in control of, the vehicle”, the company said.
Joshua Brown, an OH resident, was killed in a Tesla Model S that crashed in Williston, Florida, on May 7 with the Autopilot mode engaged.
Laura MacCleery, the vice president of consumer policy and mobilization for the magazine, acknowledges the potential of self-driving systems to contribute to road safety. “But today, we’re deeply concerned that consumers are being sold a pile of promises about unproven technology”.
The carmaker notes that it appreciates feedback from both individuals and groups, but points out that the decisions it makes are based entirely on “real-world data, not speculation by media”.
Tesla shares were little changed on Thursday, trading at $222.90.
Tesla Motors’ autopilot system is now under intense scrutiny following a series of crashes, one of which was fatal. The driver was initially hospitalized and NHTSA said that it has started gathering information whether the autopilot at the time of crash was enabled or not.
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In the last accident with Model X, Tesla said that data just before the crash indicated the driver did not have his hands on the steering.
