Over two million Teslas hit the brakes in a safety recall. A widespread software update is heading to Teslas across the US, targeting a concerning flaw in the popular Autopilot driver-assistance feature. Following a two-year investigation into crashes involving parked emergency vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) prompted the recall, aiming to enhance driver attention and prevent misuse of the autonomous technology.
False confidence when operating a vehicle: The NHTSA expressed concerns regarding the possibility that Autopilot could give drivers a false sense of security, causing them to overestimate the system's capabilities and disregard the need for caution. This could prove disastrous in situations where Tesla's technology struggles to navigate complex traffic patterns.
Software update to the rescue: The upcoming software tweak addresses this issue head-on. By monitoring driver attentiveness, the system will now issue escalating warnings for those who fail to actively engage with the road while Autopilot is active. Persistent inattention will even trigger limitations on the feature's functionality, ensuring drivers focus on their role behind the wheel.
This recall marks a major step towards safer roads for Tesla owners and everyone sharing the road. Tesla and the NHTSA are acting on a belief in the responsible development and deployment of driver-assistance technology by proactively addressing potential risks.