Tesla’s Autopilot collides with two parked vehicles

On Saturday morning, a 2019 Tesla Model 3, reportedly on Autopilot, crashed into two parked cars in Orlando, Florida.

The Orlando Division of Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) tweeted the following:

Happening now: Orange County. Trooper stopped to help a disabled motorist on I-4. When Tesla driving on “auto” mode struck the patrol car. Trooper was outside of car and extremely lucky to have not been struck. #moveover. WB lanes of I-4 remain block as scene is being cleared. pic.twitter.com/w9N7cE4bAR

- FHP Orlando (@FHPOrlando) August 28, 2021

As indicated by FHP’s report, at the hour of the occurrence, a trooper had halted to help another driver whose 2012 Mercedes GLK 350 was disabled along the edge of Interstate 4 in Orlando.

The expressway official had effectively gotten out of the police vehicle, a 2018 Dodge Charger when the Tesla runs into it. To start with, it hit the left half of the squad car, and afterward, it hit the Mercedes.

Luckily, there were no fatalities. As indicated by the Associated Press, the 27-year-old Tesla driver and the driver of the impaired Mercedes supported minor wounds while the cop stayed safe.

CNBC reports that the Model 3 driver told officials that she was utilizing Autopilot when the impact happened. In any case, the episode will be being scrutinized to decide if Autopilot caused or added to the accident.

The police have informed the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Tesla — which hasn’t given any remarks at this point — about the episode.

Particularly the subsequent drive is exceptionally cheerful, as just recognizing potential programming inadequacies isn’t sufficient.

What lies at the core of this problem is the misconception that Autopilot can deliver fully autonomous driving. And while Tesla has been recently offering warnings on its software’s limitations, we should nevertheless be wary of the “auto washing” that usually lurks in its marketing strategy.

Originally published at https://www.techlofy.com on August 30, 2021.