Cars are evolving quickly but its important that people knowthe difference between ADAS and autonomous driving.
And well, we have a problem.
Let me explain whats got me riled up.
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Really,@NYTimes?
Its not clear what the criteria are for having this functionality rescinded due to bad or unsafe driving.
For example,a video was released this week, where two Tesla owners liken driving to gaming.
This raised many conversations on Twitter about howTesladrivers understand and experience their Full Self-Drivingsubscription.
Most Tesla owners would not have made that save, lets be 100% honest with ourselves.
Is Tesla getting an easy ride?
Earlier this year, a lobby group calledThe Dawn Projecttook out a full-page ad in the New York Times.
It slammed Teslas Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta software.
Ok, my first thought was old man shouts at cloud, but I think theres something here.
They repeatedly excuse the mistakes that put lives in danger.
Part of me thinks okay, Tesla is ostensibly beta testing, so theres some margin for error.
But it raises worrying questions about parity.
Especially when we compare Teslas beta testing to the efforts of vehicle tech companies making autonomous taxis.
Take a look at Chinasregulationsthat allow AV testing on selected highways and city roads.
Driving is restricted to specific zones, and safety is prioritized.
Then, theres Cruise, which is nowofferingautonomous commercial services in San Francisco.
Ok, the robotaxis are generally only operating from 11PM to 5AM.
But the autonomous robotaxis have undergone a gradual process of rigorous testing and piloting.
Yet, Tesla drivers can go where they like.
And, too bad if they treat their car as autonomous, when its only driver-assist.
Further,robotaxis have hadfewer untoward incidents, while FSD hascaused several
Whats more dangerous?
An autonomous robotaxi or a Tesla in full-self driving (driver-assist mode)?
Weve seen little effective effort to curtail Teslas rights on the road.
Increasing the levels of vehicle automation is a hard sell to many people outside of the tech bubble.
I want individuals to feel confident and excited about the technology.
And I want them to feel safe co-existing with cars that are both autonomous and engaged in driver-assist mode.
Story byCate Lawrence
Cate Lawrence is an Australian tech journo living in Berlin.
