Tesla’s Autopilot System To Block Drivers Who Use It Incorrectly

According to reports, Tesla is set to introduce a new safety restriction

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by Brad Anderson

August 29, 2016 at 04:06

According to reports, Tesla is set to introduce a new safety restriction on its Autopilot system in the impending v8.0 software update.

Electrek has learnt that on the back of multiple accidents and crashes, the system’s abort procedure will be altered.

Currently, Autopilot will alert a driver to apply pressure to the steering wheel to keep the system active. If after a set time the driver fails to respond, the system begins a 15 second abort procedure where it slows the vehicle and instructs the driver to place their hands on the wheel before the system deactivates.

Through its crash investigations, Tesla discovered that not all owners respond to these alerts. So from v8.0, Autopilot will continue to disengage at the end of the abort procedure but will also now block the driver from restarting the system.

The only way a driver will be able to reinitialize Autopilot is to stop the car and put it in park before setting off again.

News about this restriction comes not long after Elon Musk reiterated the safety advantages of the system and refused to disable it.