Tesla in Autopilot mode crashes into California police car

[sandensea]

Source: AP

Authorities say a Tesla sedan in Autopilot mode has crashed into a parked police cruiser in Southern California.

Police Sgt. Jim Cota says the officer was not in the cruiser during the crash Tuesday in Laguna Beach. He says the Tesla driver suffered minor injuries.

The police SUV ended up with its two passenger-side wheels on a sidewalk.

Tesla's semi-autonomous Autopilot mode has come under scrutiny following other recent crashes. The carmaker says the function is not designed to avoid a collision and warns drivers not to rely on it entirely.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/tesla-in-autopilot-mode-crashes-into-california-police-car/ar-AAxZYLB?OCID=ansmsnnews11

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Scene of the accident in Laguna Beach. The Laguna Canyon Road is a heavily transited, two-lane road - such that the crash could have easily been a fatal head-on.

[lagomorph777]

1. Did the autopilot get a ticket?

Will the car have to make a court appearance?

[sandensea]

2. The owner is probably too rich to jail.

That's how it works in Laguna Beach.

It's also a place with lots of chances for a head-on collision (the Canyon Rd., the PCH, etc.).

[BumRushDaShow]

3. Ooops.

I did hear that on the radio this morning and remarked the same way.

[Cold War Spook]

4. The autopilot

is not designed to avoid a collision. To me, that is not an autopilot.

[PoliticAverse]

5. It really should be called "driver assist", because it can't really drive the car on its own. n/t

[TexasBushwhacker]

7. My thoughts exactly

It never should have been called "autopilot" in the first place.

[keithbvadu2]

6. "Tesla driver" - not quite

[Judi Lynn]

8. Not such good news. Back to the drawing board.

Maybe Tesla should start identifying its cars with Autopilot with signs or wild colors!

[sandensea]

9. Back to the drawing board - and perhaps back in the drawer.

Too much of a safety risk, I think.

Especially in a high-traffic, narrow street-filled place like Laguna Beach. They were lucky no one was killed in a head-on collision in this particular incident.

And all the more so because the prospective buyers are likely to be bratty Donald Trump types who feel they're above the law (and often are). You know how that goes.

[Plucketeer]

15. You Betcha!!!

Those consarned fancy schmancy things'll NEVER replace the horse. A good steed and a nice carriage is the epitome of transportation!

[Judi Lynn]

18. Don't we know it!

[Tiggeroshii]

10. In cases like this it usually has told the driver multiple times to put their hands back on the whee

And usually the driver ignores the advice multiple times

[Old Crank]

11. Since this is not true auto-pilot

This is driver error. Evidently Tesla tells people, and probably has it in writing, that there are limitations. This is the driver's responsibility to avoid the crash.

That being said the punishments for crashing a car are woefully low.

[frazzled]

13. The problem with driver-assist cars is that they lull drivers into inattention

and complacency, which leads to accidents. So no, it's not just the drivers' error in these many accidents—you've got to blame the entire concept of driver-assist, or autopilot vehicles. Reaction times are slowed, even when the driver is paying attention. And what normal person who is not drunk, or in the midst of cardiac arrest, would drive a car into a parked vehicle? An automated car apparently did it, no alcohol needed.

What use is having a driver-assist vehicle if you have to be watching it like a hawk and be ready to grab the controls in a split second, anyway? Just drive a regular damned car.

I think the whole idea is an accident waiting to happen, and it should be abandoned.

[jmowreader]

12. That Tesla is probably a write-off

Teslas have water-cooled batteries. If the coolant drains out, as it has done here, your battery stands a good chance of destroying itself. Combined with the body damage, it’ll cost more to fix this car than the car is worth.

On a regular car, that’s a $2500 fender bender.

[rgbecker]

14. I can't wait for a self driving car to hit me.

I need a new car and I can't imagine one of these cars being able to defend itself in court no matter how the accident plays out.

[dembotoz]

16. Don't hit police cars . would think that is basic program directive

Do cars in Hawaii get told not to drive into molten lava?

[hunter]

17. Tesla needs to turn that off. Wealthy people are dangerous.

Let them hire chauffeurs.

[sandensea]

19. +1

The impunity that comes with these potential future accidents, for the wealthy and/or connected, is a big part of it.

[Upward]

20. Wake Me Up When the Tech Press is Ready to Stop Fawning Over Elon Musk

and every other Silicon Valley figure.

[heliarc]

21. Did it detect a future police brutality incident? n/t