Idaho | Newguy - 5/7/2024 05:10 Tesla is at the top for safety by far.
If I were making the trip you are asking about I would rent a car I was comfortable with. Enjoy your family. Come home and then rent the EV or many and learn. With most of the controls on a screen for the Tesla that is a distraction right there. You want to keep this trip as safe as possible I personally would not want to be learning all new features and layouts of a strange car.
How do you define safety? Ask the student unloading from a school bus or the fire truck crew and you might get a different view on safety.
https://apnews.com/article/tesla-school-bus-student-hurt-firetruck-d282a5dd63874f22f5e1a6fc8168801b
Or the motorcyclist if he could talk.
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/tesla-driver-seattle-area-crash-killed-motorcyclist-told-police-was-us-rcna149401
In both cases it would appear some form of auto driving was employed. To be fair other companies are bring to market their version of a self driving vehicle. Ford is having issue too.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2024/04/29/ford-hands-free-driving-bluecruise-investigation/73497284007/
Ironic: NTSB recommends technologies to curb drunk driving and speeding in new vehicles
https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/20/politics/ntsb-speeding-drunk-driving-technology-new-vehicles-recommendation/index.html yet manufactures are moving forward with technology that will promote impaired driving.
From an article on teen impaired driving "Teens need to understand when they are unfit to drive. Consuming alcohol or other drugs, including marijuana, in any amount, makes them unfit to drive and can result in a DUI or worse. While it can be harder to recognize, driving while drowsy is also considered an “impairment” and increases crash risk." If driving while drowsy is impaired then letting the car drive you while your mind is checked out is just as much an impairment.
Maybe we should look at the aviation industry and some thoughts on autopilot systems.
Aviation safety is improving, but advances in automation are creating another danger—automation dependency. In the last half-decade, several airline accidents have been attributed in part to a pilot’s over-reliance on the autopilot and other automated systems. These include Colgan Flight 3407 (2009); Air France Flight 447 (2009); Asiana Flight 214 (2013); and UPS Flight 1354 (2013), to name a few. Additionally, automation dependency has been indicated in an increasing number of general aviation accidents. Modern autopilots have become so reliable that they have lulled us into a sense of complacency. For the sake of safety, pilots must view the autopilot as a tool to be utilized, not a crutch.
https://lift.erau.edu/pilot-perspective-automation-is-a-tool-not-a-crutch/
Who will be at fault? It will be interesting to follow this as self driving becomes more the norm. For sure the lawyers will be making some good money.
https://www.horwitzlaw.com/faq/motor-vehicles-accidents/autonomous-vehicle-liability-in-an-accident/
SAFE depends on how it is defined. Without proper training non of these self driving cars are really safe IMHO. I see that every time I test a new driver. 30 years ago they had some concepts of driving on snow and looking before making lane changes etc. Now most can not even back up without depending on a screen. Hit the brake as hard as you can and let ABS work we hope. I am sure the vehicle will tell me if I am to close to something why look? We are doing a very good job of dumbing down our driving population.
SAFE well maybe not!
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We're taking a trip soon and I want to rent a Tesla. Opinions??
