Tesla is in trouble again. A Model S killed a motorcyclist in Full Self Driving (FSD) mode in a Seattle suburb. This accident has not only raised new doubts about the safety of autonomous driving technology, but also makes people can't help but ask: can we really reassure us about the future of autonomous driving?
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In April, a fatal accident occurred near Seattle. A 2022 Tesla Model S crashed and killed a 28-year-old motorcyclist, Jeffrey Neeson, in FSD mode. Investigators downloaded information from the vehicle's event data logger and confirmed that it was in FSD mode at the time of the accident. And the driver who caused the accident was also arrested because he admitted that he was inattentive in FSD mode and even used his mobile phone distracted while driving, completely counting on the machine to help him drive.
Tesla is a big deal this time. The Washington State Highway Patrol said that while no charges have been filed against the driver who caused the accident, the case is still under investigation. When you think about it, this driver's dependence and trust in autonomous driving technology is simply stunning. Did he really believe in Tesla's evil, or was he too lazy and gave his life to the machine?
When it comes to Tesla's self-driving technology, it is necessary to mention its two systems: FSD and Autopilot. In simple terms, FSD can take on many driving tasks in a variety of road conditions, including city streets, while Autopilot is mainly responsible for keeping the vehicle in the lane and avoiding obstacles ahead. This sounds high-tech, but in reality, Tesla itself admits that neither system can currently achieve full self-driving, and the driver must be ready to take over control of the vehicle at any time.
But Tesla users seem to be a little confused with the two names, thinking that if they buy a self-driving car, they can really lie down and enjoy it. After all, who doesn't want to look at their phone and text while driving? But the reality is that FSD is not foolproof. It would be naïve to expect it to operate trouble-free throughout.
Let's talk about Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the "Iron Man" of the technology industry. He has repeatedly promised that the FSD system will be able to operate unsupervised by the end of this year. He also said that a fleet of driverless taxis will be launched so that everyone can experience the technology of the future. But on a recent earnings call, he himself had to admit that his past forecasts were a bit "overly optimistic." Well, to put it bluntly, it's just bragging.
Musk has always emphasized that Tesla is not just a car company, but more like a robotics and artificial intelligence company. He hopes to attract more investors through these high-level technologies. However, frequent accidents and constantly postponed plans have made people doubt about Tesla's future. Investors, are you okay with your money?
The question now is, will autonomous driving technology be safe on the road? Tesla's fatal accident apparently gave a not very optimistic answer. Autonomous driving technology may sound cool, but in reality, the technology is not mature enough, and the risks remain.
Can the testing of the FSD system on public roads really guarantee the safety of all drivers and pedestrians? Or have we all become Tesla's "guinea pigs", contributing our safety and lives to their technological progress on the road? This question, I'm afraid even Musk himself doesn't dare to pack a ticket.
After the occurrence of autonomous driving accidents, the division of responsibility is also a big problem. If the driver is distracted by using his mobile phone in FSD mode, can he be blamed entirely? Or is Tesla also partly to blame? At present, Tesla's clause implies that the passenger is responsible, which feels a bit unauthentic. After all, it doesn't make sense that users spend a lot of money to buy your high-tech car, and then they have to take responsibility for what happens, right?
The future of autonomous driving technology is really full of uncertainty. Tesla's fatal accident has exposed the current technical and regulatory deficiencies. We need to be more cautious about the development of autonomous driving technology to ensure that it can truly bring safety and convenience to people. Don't let "unmanned driving" become "no one is responsible", and don't let "the future of technology" become "the future of accidents".
Further, thinking of the radish run that has been widely rolled out in China, there is also an implicit responsibility for passengers in the terms, can autonomous driving be safe on the road at present? Where is the protection of us, who use curiosity as an experiment?
So, on the road ahead, do you dare to hand over your life to the machine?
So how do you feel about it?
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