Safety experts slam Tesla “Assertive” mode that automates dangerous driving
Road safety experts are dumb-founded by Tesla’s new “Assertive” mode, part of the latest autonomous driving update on certain models sold in the US.
According to information on the Tesla display screen, “Assertive” mode will deliver “a smaller follow distance, perform more frequent speed lane changes, will not exit passing lanes, and may perform rolling stops.”
All of the above actions are illegal in Australia – not keep safe distance from the car in front, unsafe lane change, hog overtaking lanes, and not stop at stop sign.
The fines for the above offences attract hefty penalties. For example, in NSW the fine for not stopping at a stop sign is $349 and three demerit points, in Queensland the penalty is $413 and three demerit points, and in Victoria is $330 and three demerit points. Other states have similar penalties.
In another example, the fine for following too close to the vehicle ahead is $321 and one point in Queensland. Unsafe lane changes attract penalties of between $250 and $350 – and two demerit points – in most Australian states. Hogging the overtaking lane also amounts to a fine in Australia.
“Assertive” driving mode was introduced in October 2021 on certain Tesla cars in the US equipped with a high level of autonomous driving technology.The feature was removed a couple of days later amid concerns some cars were making illegal and unsafe turns at intersections.
However, the various autonomous driving modes – “Chill”, “Average”, and “Assertive” have since reappeared in the menu options.
Tesla’s “Assertive” driving mode initially received media attention in the US after a post on Twitter by David Zipper, a Visiting Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, who specialises in future cities, technology, and mobility.
“I guess ‘Road Rage Mode’ didn’t fit on the screen,” wrote Zipper, whose Tweet has since been shared around the world.
While Tesla does not offer fully autonomous driving modes in Australia – or the “Assertive” mode that has caused a stir in the US – local road safety advocates are concerned about what’s around the corner from the company that courts controversy.
Russell White, the head of the Australian Road Safety Foundation, who has worked in advanced driver education for 30 years, told Drive: “The whole point of autonomous driving technology is to reduce risk, but having a mode like this is asking for trouble.”
Mr White said it made as much sense as adding “Jet Fighter Mode” to a Boeing 747 aircraft.
“I honestly can’t makes sense of the need for this mode, I don’t understand what they’re trying to achieve,” said Mr White.
“Breaking road rules is a very serious concern; removing the safety buffer – and the safe following distances that we have spent decades educating motorists to adopt – is just madness.”
While Mr White did not want to comment on Tesla specifically, he said the idea of an autonomous driving mode that took greater risks, zig-zagged through traffic, and rolled through stop signs was “reckless”.
“I have to say I think (the introduction of such technology) is reckless, there’s no other way to describe it,” said Mr White.
“What’s the motivation behind having something like that? I’m struggling to get my head around the relevance of even having a piece of technology like this, that would turn vehicles into more aggressive drivers.”
Another road safety advocate, James Stewart from Driving Solutions – which, among its advanced driving courses also donates time and expertise to helping learners deal with dangers on the road – was equally baffled by Tesla’s “Assertive” driving mode.
“It’s dumb and it’s dangerous,” said Mr Stewart. “Aggression is the exact opposite of what we need on the road. We need to give other cars bigger gaps, not reduce the margin for error.”
Mr Stewart said “Assertive” mode has the potential to increase the risk of crashes.
“It goes against everything that’s ever been taught about safer driving,” said Mr Stewart. “I really hope this doesn’t become a reality. It’s insane to think Tesla is even thinking about this for road use. This has the potential to make roads more dangerous, not safer.”
Both road safety experts were in such disbelief over Tesla’s “Assertive” driving mode, they declined to comment until they could see the description in the Tesla display with their own eyes.
The controversy around Tesla
“Assertive” mode comes as the electric-car specialist comes under increasing scrutiny from US safety regulators following a number of fatal crashes involving its autonomous driving tech – and numerous examples of drivers pushing the limits of the technology by riding in the backseat and with no-one behind the wheel.The post Safety experts slam Tesla “Assertive” mode that automates dangerous driving appeared first on Drive.