this post was submitted on 20 Dec 2023
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So they are pretty much trying to figure out how to make sure the driver is paying attention to the road? IDK, maybe make the car respond to the steering wheel so that the driver has to move it or the car will not turn? That would ensure the driver is actually looking at the road.
Alternatively ask them questions about the surroundings. "Driver, what state is the car in front of you from? You have 3 second to answer or FSD will be disabled".
Just because a driver has their hands on the wheel doesn't mean they're watching the road. They might be watching a movie.
As for asking about number plates - that sounds like a distraction that would cause accidents rather than prevent them.
For me these systems need to be really clear. Either the person is driving, in which case they are fully responsible for every crash, or the car is driving, in which case the car is fully responsible. There's no room for any grey area in the middle.
In my opinion Tesla should be forced to refund anyone who was told their car has "full self driving". I'm OK with autopilot though, since the airplane and boat version of that feature has always pretty much been "just keep going in a straight line until a human disengages autopilot".
Asking questions was obviously a joke.
As for the rest I don't know what would it take to make sure the driver is paying attention. Distracted driving is the most common cause of accidents so clearly even in normal cars we can't be sure drivers are paying attention. I think we can agree cruise control is generally good but I have no idea what happens once the car has line following. Is it the same? You focus on the road more? Or do you stop paying attention completely? I think it's a questions to scientists really. Someone has to test it rigorously before it's actually added to the cars. My feeling is that once you don't have to drive by yourself (as in turn and brake) you eventually stop paying attention, so yeah, either the car drives itself 100% or you drive.
Note: it's not the HTSB or any other agency's responsibility to figure out a solution for Tesla. They just need to figure out what the bar for safety is, and tell tesla "make it as safe as full low light eye tracking, with whatever solution you want. But if you can't make it at least that safe your cars shouldn't be allowed back on the roads".
I was the biggest cheerleader for self driving cars because i hate driving - but "our best self driving car still can't self drive at all" isn't good enough, and letting them keep doing half assed shit like this does more harm to bringing people around to the technology than good.