Within the last few years, videos have gone viral online that show someone completely asleep behind the wheel of a Tesla vehicle, utilizing its Full Self-Driving (FSD) capability.
Well, new in-car messaging from the auto manufacturer is urging drivers who are drifting between lanes (or potentially feeling drowsy) to activate FSD to stay focused; however, experts warn that drivers could use this feature unsafely.
The message, which reads “Lane drift detected. Let FSD assist so you can stay focused,” was included in a recent update and, according to Wired, was spotted earlier this month by a hacker who tracks Tesla’s development. Another similar message, which was posted to Twitter/X, reads “Drowsiness detected. Stay focused with FSD.” Interestingly, similar posts have been shared showing other versions of the new FSD notification in use. However, one user shared their concern, noting that it was only a switch of road material.
According to Wired, an interesting point is that research on how humans interact with computer systems designed to accomplish tasks reveals a common finding: we are really bad supervisors of these automated systems. When studying the aviation sector, it is referred to as an “out-of-loop” problem, where pilots relying on fully automated systems can fail to accurately monitor for malfunctions due to complacency after extended periods of use.
One positive, however, is that Tesla has taken steps to make it more difficult for drivers who aren’t paying attention to use the FSD feature. In 2021, the automaker began using in-car monitoring cameras to make sure that drivers were paying attention while using FSD. If not, a series of alerts would warn drivers if they are not paying attention to the road. Tesla also uses a ‘strike system’ that can block drivers from using the feature if they fail to respond to the prompts.
Interestingly, Tesla has been under fire recently for the technology built into its vehicles. Last Thursday, reports indicated that Tesla is set to redesign the Model Y’s electronic flush door handles after investigations revealed that people had been trapped inside in both panic and low-voltage situations. A North Bay teen also recently failed their road test due to the regenerative braking being labelled as too high-tech (seriously).
Source: Wired
