Drivers in the US Treat Partially Automated Cars From Tesla z3n5h GM, as Self-Driving, Says Study

The study comes as the National Highway Traffic Safety istration (NHTSA) is scrutinizing Tesla Autopilot crashes. 571b6f

By Reuters | Updated: 11 October 2022 12:56 IST

Drivers in the US Treat Partially Automated Cars From Tesla, GM, as Self-Driving, Says Study

Photo Credit: Reuters 3v6d2p

Tesla says Autopilot does not make vehicles autonomous, intended for use with a fully attentive driver

Highlights

Nissan's ProPILOT Assist requires hands-on operation
Early adopters are said to have poor understanding of its limits
NHTSA opened 37 investigations involving 18 Tesla Autopilot crashes

ment

Drivers using advanced driver assistance systems like Tesla Autopilot or General Motors Super Cruise often treat their vehicles as fully self-driving despite warnings, a new study has found.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an industry-funded group that prods automakers to make safer vehicles, said on Tuesday a survey found regular s of Super Cruise, Nissan/Infiniti ProPILOT Assist and Tesla Autopilot "said they were more likely to perform non-driving-related activities like eating or texting while using their partial automation systems than while driving unassisted."

The IIHS study of 600 active s found that 53 percent of Super Cruise, 42 percent of Autopilot, and 12 percent of ProPILOT Assist owners "said that they were comfortable treating their vehicles as fully self-driving."

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About 40 percent of s of Autopilot and Super Cruise - two systems with lockout features for failing to pay attention - reported systems had at some point switched off while they were driving and would not reactivate.

"The big-picture message here is that the early adopters of these systems still have a poor understanding of the technology's limits," said IIHS President David Harkey.

The study comes as the National Highway Traffic Safety istration (NHTSA) is scrutinizing Autopilot crashes.

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Since 2016, the NHTSA has opened 37 special investigations involving 18 deaths in crashes involving Autopilot were suspected of use.

Tesla did not respond to requests for comment. Tesla says Autopilot does not make vehicles autonomous and is intended for use with a fully attentive driver who is prepared to take over.

GM, which in August said owners could use Super Cruise on 400,000 miles (643,740 km) of North American roads and plans to offer Super Cruise on 22 models by the end of 2023, did not immediately comment.

IIHS said ments for Super Cruise focus on hands-free capabilities while Autopilot evokes the name used in enger aeroplanes and "implies Tesla's system is more capable than it really is." IIHS in contrast noted that ProPILOT Assist "suggests that it's an assistance feature, rather than a replacement for the driver."

NHTSA and automakers say none of the systems makes vehicles autonomous.

Nissan said its name "is clearly communicating ProPILOT Assist as a system to aid the driver, and it requires a hands-on operation. The driver maintains control of the vehicle at all times."

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