First fatal crash involving a self-driving car

[cpzilliacus]

N.Y. Times: Self-Driving Tesla Was Involved in Fatal Crash, U.S. Says

The race by automakers and technology firms to develop self-driving cars has been fueled by the belief that computers can operate a vehicle more safely than human drivers.

But that view is now in question after the revelation on Thursday that the driver of a Tesla Model S electric sedan was killed in an accident when the car was in self-driving mode.

Federal regulators, who are in the early stages of setting guidelines for autonomous vehicles, have opened a formal investigation into the incident, which occurred on May 7 in Williston, Fla.

[jeffandnicole]

Honestly, no matter what it is, there's always going to be a first.

Some of the comments, including "The crash also casts doubt on whether autonomous vehicles in general can consistently make split-second, life-or-death driving decisions on the highway", are over-exaggerated.  It doesn't give even the slightest hint as to how many split-second, life-or-death driving decisions such vehicles may have already been involved in.

Also, it should be noted that 2015 turned out to be a very deadly year for motorists, with approximately 35,200 people dying in traffic accidents; a 7.7% increase from the year before.  Looking at basic numbers, 0 were killed as a result of a self-driving vehicle.

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/transportation/20160701_ap_2932c93089524dfe9d9e5a7dfab8b98d.html

[realjd]

One fatality in 130 million miles on Tesla autopilot. Human drivers in the US have 1 fatality for every 94 million miles. Aitopilot is statistically safer than driving yourself.

I'd also like to point out that the driver command it to drive well above the speed limit, and he was watching a Harry Potter DVD instead of watching the road as he should have been. Tesla Autopilot mode is just cruise control with automatic steering. It's not a full self-drive mode.

[AlexandriaVA]

Meanwhile, we have yet to record an automobile fatality caused by a human operator...

[SteveG1988]

I heard on the radio that the guy was known to be a lead foot and that he went clean through the truck, and 1/4 of a mile before hitting a telephone pole.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-autopilot-dvd-idUSKCN0ZH5BW

[GCrites]

His foot probably didn't let off the gas after his head was ripped off while watching that Harry Potter DVD.

[Max Rockatansky]

Sounds like this is more a testament to the build quality of that DVD player.  Really?...Harry Potter is the way this guy went down? 

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/dvd-player-found-tesla-model-154828277.html

[Jardine]

Kinda creepy it wasn't porn of some kind if you think about it . . .

[Max Rockatansky]

Kinda creepy it wasn't porn of some kind if you think about it . . .

That would be the normal thing to do while your car is barreling down US 27A in autopilot mode?  Hell Google should pick that up as a selling point for all those automated cars. 

[renegade]

Kinda creepy it wasn't porn of some kind if you think about it . . .

Hey, it's happened before:  http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2016/01/27/man-dies-crash-watching-movie/79391864/

[Max Rockatansky]

Kinda creepy it wasn't porn of some kind if you think about it . . .

Hey, it's happened before:  http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2016/01/27/man-dies-crash-watching-movie/79391864/

Ya know....given that I'm from the city I've been telling people all my life that only CERTAIN things happen in Detroit...that's one of them...  I like how the Free Press didn't beat (pun intended) around the bush and just called the guy out in the most plain jane way possible for choking the chicken.  How did that not get picked up on the internet and go viral back in January?

[kphoger]

What I had heard on the radio is that Tesla thinks the car didn't notice the truck because it was white and blended in with the cloudy sky.  Why radar or sonar or whichever ranging system it also uses didn't pick up the object, they're not sure of.  This is kind of a big deal, if you think about it:  a huge truck being completely missed by the equipment.

[Max Rockatansky]

What I had heard on the radio is that Tesla thinks the car didn't notice the truck because it was white and blended in with the cloudy sky.  Why radar or sonar or whichever ranging system it also uses didn't pick up the object, they're not sure of.  This is kind of a big deal, if you think about it:  a huge truck being completely missed by the equipment.

It's significant and goes to show that we aren't ready to turn the keys over to the Cylons yet...but that's now how the Tesla system was meant to be used.  The way I understand it the system still operates under the assumption that the driver is paying attention and not watching ole Harry slug it out over a million movies with Lord Voldermort.  Tesla will probably will come out of this pretty clean due to the stupidity of the driver but it will be a bigger set back for Google if it gets more eyes on via government oversight on how the automation technology is being developed.

[jeffandnicole]

Kinda creepy it wasn't porn of some kind if you think about it . . .

Hey, it's happened before:  http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2016/01/27/man-dies-crash-watching-movie/79391864/

Ya know....given that I'm from the city I've been telling people all my life that only CERTAIN things happen in Detroit...that's one of them...  I like how the Free Press didn't beat (pun intended) around the bush and just called the guy out in the most plain jane way possible for choking the chicken.  How did that not get picked up on the internet and go viral back in January?

During my days on the NJ Turnpike, I saw a few people watching videos as they entered my toll lane, including one watching porn. They didn't hit my booth, so I wasn't bothered.  Probably should've washed my hands after handling that money though!

[7/8]

Kinda creepy it wasn't porn of some kind if you think about it . . .

Hey, it's happened before:  http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2016/01/27/man-dies-crash-watching-movie/79391864/

Ya know....given that I'm from the city I've been telling people all my life that only CERTAIN things happen in Detroit...that's one of them...  I like how the Free Press didn't beat (pun intended) around the bush and just called the guy out in the most plain jane way possible for choking the chicken.  How did that not get picked up on the internet and go viral back in January?

During my days on the NJ Turnpike, I saw a few people watching videos as they entered my toll lane, including one watching porn. They didn't hit my booth, so I wasn't bothered.  Probably should've washed my hands after handling that money though!

Can they not wait until they get home?

[Max Rockatansky]

Kinda creepy it wasn't porn of some kind if you think about it . . .

Hey, it's happened before:  http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2016/01/27/man-dies-crash-watching-movie/79391864/

Ya know....given that I'm from the city I've been telling people all my life that only CERTAIN things happen in Detroit...that's one of them...  I like how the Free Press didn't beat (pun intended) around the bush and just called the guy out in the most plain jane way possible for choking the chicken.  How did that not get picked up on the internet and go viral back in January?

During my days on the NJ Turnpike, I saw a few people watching videos as they entered my toll lane, including one watching porn. They didn't hit my booth, so I wasn't bothered.  Probably should've washed my hands after handling that money though!

So they managed to throw the change with one hand, while having the other hand occupied?  Were they steering with their left knee?...damn that's some hardcore multitasking. 

Kinda creepy it wasn't porn of some kind if you think about it . . .

Hey, it's happened before:  http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2016/01/27/man-dies-crash-watching-movie/79391864/

Ya know....given that I'm from the city I've been telling people all my life that only CERTAIN things happen in Detroit...that's one of them...  I like how the Free Press didn't beat (pun intended) around the bush and just called the guy out in the most plain jane way possible for choking the chicken.  How did that not get picked up on the internet and go viral back in January?

During my days on the NJ Turnpike, I saw a few people watching videos as they entered my toll lane, including one watching porn. They didn't hit my booth, so I wasn't bothered.  Probably should've washed my hands after handling that money though!

Can they not wait until they get home?

Traffic jam slowing the commute home down? 

[Max Rockatansky]

[hm insulators]

Kinda creepy it wasn't porn of some kind if you think about it . . .

Hey, it's happened before:  http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2016/01/27/man-dies-crash-watching-movie/79391864/

Ya know....given that I'm from the city I've been telling people all my life that only CERTAIN things happen in Detroit...that's one of them...  I like how the Free Press didn't beat (pun intended) around the bush and just called the guy out in the most plain jane way possible for choking the chicken.  How did that not get picked up on the internet and go viral back in January?

During my days on the NJ Turnpike, I saw a few people watching videos as they entered my toll lane, including one watching porn. They didn't hit my booth, so I wasn't bothered.  Probably should've washed my hands after handling that money though!

Yuck!