Drivers using Autopilot had one crash for every 3.07 million miles
driven, the company says.
After testing on
public roads, Tesla is rolling out a new feature of its partially automated
driving system designed to spot stop signs and traffic signals.
The update of the electric car company's cruise control and auto-steer systems is a step toward as CEO Elon Musk's pledged to convert cars to fully self-driving vehicles by this year. But it is against recommendations from the US National Transportation Safety Board that instructed Tesla to limit where the Autopilot driving system can operate because it has failed to spot and react to hazards in at least three fatal crashes.
In a note sent to
a group of Tesla
car owners who were picked to test the stoplight and sign recognition
feature, the company said it can be used with the Traffic Aware Cruise Control
or Autosteer systems.
The feature will
slow the car whenever it detects a traffic light, including those that are
green or blinking yellow. It will notify the driver of its intent to slow down
and stop, and drivers must push down the gear selector and press the
accelerator pedal to confirm that it's safe to proceed.
The company warns
in the note obtained by The Associated Press that drivers must pay attention
and be ready to take immediate action including braking because this feature
may not stop for all traffic controls.
The note also
mentions that over time, as the system learns from the fleet on the roads, it
will control more naturally. Tesla didn't respond to multiple requests for
additional details, but the website Electrek.co reported last week that the new
feature is being sent to the wider Tesla fleet as part of an over-the-internet
software update for thousands of vehicles. The feature won't come until later
in other parts of the world, the website said.
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