NHTSA upgrades Tesla Autopilot probe, could lead to recall

An investigation into the safety of Tesla's so-called Autopilot has been upgraded from a preliminary peek to a formal engineering analysis, a step that could put the Musk-owned motor company on the path to a recall of nearly one million vehicles.  The investigation, being conducted by the US National Highway Traffic Safety …

[Blank Reg]

The problem begins with it being called autopilot and then is exacerbated by musk going on about autonomous vehicles and how he wants to make a car with no steering wheel.

There are people stupid enough to believe him, and then they die in an avoidable fiery crash

[ShadowSystems]

Stop calling it AutoPilot.

If a blind person can't climb in, tell the car where to go, & never have to touch the controls for any reason whatsoever, then stop calling it auto pilot, self driving, or any other phrase that implies the vehicle can drive itself.

You've done a decent step towards that by firing your PR department, but you Mister MoneyBags need to stop using those phrases, making those implications, & giving folks the impression that the car will be able to do the job on it's own.

[Anonymous Coward]

'There are people stupid enough to believe him, and then they die in an avoidable fiery crash'

Yes, those stupid people might die. They probably have friends and family so that's not a good thing.

However they are culpable for their own demise. Those who might die as a result of their actions are absolutely not culpable and they also have friends and family who have then lost someone who did nothing to bring on their own demise. That that is worse in my opinion.

The 'stupid people' and Tesla are both definitely culpable for the loss of life.

[Neil Barnes]

The big snag with evolution in action is that it also damages too many innocents.

If you want to get in a vehicle and have it convey you to your destination without you having to steer it, brake it, or have any other input to it, and to have it done in a safe and reliable manner, you might consider planes, trains, or buses.

[Tom 38]

Or hire a driver. Yes miss Daisy.

[Phil O'Sophical]

Don't stop at autopilot

undermining the effectiveness of the driver's supervision

They should extend this investigation to cover all the so-called "driver assistance" devices.

[Graham Dawson]

Re: Don't stop at autopilot

Everything that reduces a driver's requirement to pay attention to controlling the car increases the risk that they'll stop paying attention to everything. All of these features create the same lulling effect; it's as unavoidable as impairment by alcohol.

[Neil Barnes]

Re: Don't stop at autopilot

I have a suspicion that even things as simple as blind spot indicators cause people to look at the indicator, and not at the mirror to which it is attached. No evidence of course, other than observation of people doing strange manoeuvres while driving.

[gurugeorge]

Musk for president.

[bazza]

Are you suggesting he's in favour of a brand of quality French butter, perhaps opposed to margerine in some way or other?

[Fruit and Nutcase]

Butter wouldn't melt in his mouth, whatever the brand, probably.

[Tom 38]

Please, President is about the same quality as Lurpak or Anchor, its no Beurre D'Isigny or Beurre Bordier

[bazza]

Ah, someone who knows their butters. El Reg has it all, IT and also expertise in dairy products.

I think that we need a Playmobil reenactment of the IT angle to butter production.

[Fruit and Nutcase]

I think that we need a Playmobil reenactment of the IT angle to butter production.

It will probably be NSFW...

icon -->

Butter, Last Tango in...

[MachDiamond]

"Musk for president."

He's already claimed the titles of "Technoking" and "Imperator of Mars". Do you really think he has the time? Not to mention that he doesn't qualify.

[Alan Brown]

But the 61st amendment was passed to allow Arnold Schwartzenegger to become president, so his Muskiness can slip in too (if he can get past Stallone)

[Howard Sway]

could put the Musk-owned motor company on the path to a recall of nearly one million vehicles

Please make them have to announce a recall on Twitter.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: could put the Musk-owned motor company on the path to a recall of nearly one million vehicles

It could be material to Tesla finances and thus would need an attorney to review the tweet from the twat first.

[Strahd Ivarius]

Re: could put the Musk-owned motor company on the path to a recall of nearly one million vehicles

most probably the SEC would ask why the tweet was not reviewed by an attorney before being sent...

[Chael]

surface street

"an area where it wasn't designed to be used, like a surface street"

I'm genuinely confused, what would count as a non-surface street? (Visions of cars flying in lanes, a la Back To The Future)