First Tesla Autopilot fatality

Django x2

Django x2

Django x2

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Not sure if this has been posted, but it doesn't look good for the pro autonomous campaign.

Still, as callous as this might sound, we learn from these types of incidents.

http://globalnews.ca/news/2798028/tesla-driver-using-model-s-autopilot-function-dies-in-crash/

Car ploughed into the side of a rig shearing the roof and windscreen off and then continued under the rig, out the other side and on to hit a lamp post.

Reports are that he was watching a film which the police say is evidenced by the fact they found a portable DVD player in the car (as Tesla say you can't watch DVDs whilst in motion).
 
It's also a reason for better truck safety in North America. Unlike Europe, guard rails below the trailer chassis are not a legal requirement meaning in an accident the car can ride underneath :(
 
[TW]Fox;29729326 said:
It's also a reason for better truck safety in North America. Unlike Europe, guard rails below the trailer chassis are not a legal requirement meaning in an accident the car can ride underneath :(
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Yep, I was shocked to learn that they're not required. So dangerous :(

edit; Sure I read somewhere that the truck driver had been arrested, so that suggests there is blame lying on his side too
 
[TW]Fox;29729326 said:
It's also a reason for better truck safety in North America. Unlike Europe, guard rails below the trailer chassis are not a legal requirement meaning in an accident the car can ride underneath :(
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The first Fast & Furious would have been a pipe dream if we all listened to you...:p
 
GeX said:
Yep, I was shocked to learn that they're not required. So dangerous :(

edit; Sure I read somewhere that the truck driver had been arrested, so that suggests there is blame lying on his side too
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from what has been reported it's essentially all on the truck driver.
he was the one who cut up (unlike in the op saying the car swerved into the truck) and most articles says its doubtful a person in charge would have changed anything.

TBH I don't see this as having an impact. it's here to stay and will only get more pervasive in the market.

the more interesting part is who will sue who. but if the watching a dvd is true, his estate has no chance of winning.

driving standards and roads are bad in the states. Couldn't believe they just leave debris, how ever large on the hard shoulders when I was over there.
 
Thing is it SHOULD have automatically put the brakes on, but the driver should also have been paying attention. Either way the truck driver is at fault.

Just goes to show you shouldn't rely on technology when your life is at stake. Especially when that tech is in it's "beta" stage :P
 
Nasher said:
Some of the truck drivers in the US are also lunatics. I don't think they are even speed limited either.
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They aren't limited and usually they can legally travel at the same speed as cars, which in some places is 80mph :eek:

Most of the New Jersey Turnpike has divided 'Cars only' lanes which are quite a good idea, it's a shame it's not more widespread.
 
Nasher said:
Thing is it SHOULD have automatically put the brakes on, but the driver should also have been paying attention. Either way the truck driver is at fault.

Just goes to show you shouldn't rely on technology when your life is at stake. Especially when that tech is in it's "beta" stage :P
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Tesla commented on this saying that Autopilot is still a beta and it warns drivers that they are totally responsible when using the feature and as such, should always be aware of what is going on.

Given the unique nature of the scenario in this tragic incident, the data gathered from it will help Tesla re-calibrate the car's monitoring systems to avoid it happening again. Autopilot has covered over 100 million miles and this is the first time a big rig has crossed perpendicular to the road under strong sunlight causing the system to think it was an overhead sign and just carry on going forwards. If I had a Tesla I'd use it for sure, but would never take my eyes off the road!
 
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Autopilot's still really just a gimmick, rather than something to rely on. I've covered long distances with it on, but then I've always sat there and kept an eye on what's going on - basically, acted like I'm driving, which you should - which is fortunate, because a few times it's decided to fire me into the central reservation. If I didn't have my hands on the wheel, it'd have been messy.

I don't think the sensor suite is anywhere near comprehensive enough for safe use, either - the Tesla can only 'see' 5m to the side and rearwards, as far as I'm aware, which is nowhere near enough for something travelling at speed. Performing an automated overtake? Yea, good luck with that when someone closing much faster ploughs into you because you didn't check your mirrors...
 
Django x2 said:
Not sure if this has been posted, but it doesn't look good for the pro autonomous campaign.
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It doesn't look good? This is the first fatality, the truck driver was at fault and millions of people have died driving normal cars.

People will die in metal objects hurling down the road at 50mph, it is a given, it is absolutely pathetic to say that this is a problem for autonomy when its perfectly acceptable for traditional drivers.
 
Autopilot is always going to be abused by some. If he was watching a DVD at the time its mainly his fault to be fair.

I wonder how much time the car had to either apply breaks or move to prevent the accident from happening.
 
hurfdurf said:
it is absolutely pathetic to say that this is a problem for autonomy when its perfectly acceptable for traditional drivers.
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Stating that road fatalities are acceptable provided they are caused by a human driver would be a pathetic thing to say. It's therefore of no surprise that it's only you that has stated it.
 
Truck driver probably had an "I'll show him" moment - as they can be quite mad and find things like this normal - and that crossed with someone totally oblivious and watching a DVD has led to this.
 
with the million of miles driven, this is still a relatively safer option. hopefully tesla can improve the safety with this lesson
 
GeX said:
None, it didn't 'see' the truck. Then again nor did the human driver.
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Question is whether the driver would have put himself into the same position where neither he nor the computer could then see the danger or whether the driver would have driven more cautiously given the environment factors.
 
Rroff said:
Question is whether the driver would have put himself into the same position where neither he nor the computer could then see the danger or whether the driver would have driven more cautiously given the environment factors.
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Had the driver been looking out of the front window and actually driving, he would've recognised that it was a truck's trailer blocking the road ahead (and not a road sign as the computer classified it) and would've braked and / or swerved. Had the car impacted the trailer's wheels or hit the tractor unit, then the Tesla's crash structures would've absorbed some of the impact and increased the survival chances.

I'm not suggesting that the outcome would've been different, and the police over there clearly think the truck driver is in the wrong (else why arrest him) - but as much as I do support autonomous driving, it's clear to see that it failed here. That failure to react could be a contributing factor in the driver's death.
 
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