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Comment by aphextron | Hacker News Reader

>"...our data shows that, when used properly by an attentive driver who is prepared to take control at all times, drivers supported by Autopilot are safer than those operating without assistance."

This is the key phrase. Tesla is all in on marketing "Autopilot" as a fully autonomous driving agent when it's not. It's an advanced lane-keep assist system combined with dynamic adaptive cruise control. No more advanced than GM Super Cruise or Honda Sensing. The lies from their marketing department and Musk himself are causing these deaths, not the technology. If they were responsible in representing what the system really is, people would actually be more attentive to the fact that they are still driving a car, and not blindly trust their lives to a level 2 system. Honda and GM do this, and have yet to see any fatalities.

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>> "...who is prepared to take control at all times..."

I honestly don't see the point of "autopilot" if I have to be prepared to take control at all times. It's not like it's any less work than actually driving manually (the hard part is maintaining focus, not twiddling a steering wheel back and forth). In reality, I don't think people who use it are actually prepared to take control at all times. Hence the accidents.

> It's an advanced lane-keep assist system combined with dynamic adaptive cruise control.

Can these features be activated independently in Tesla vehicles?

I like the idea of adaptive cruise control (ACC), but I don't think I'd like it if my car steered for me. That seems reasonable, and many cars do have ACC without lane-assist, but what about the other way around? What if I want to control the gas pedal, but have the car keep itself in the lane? Like if I'm eating a sandwich and need to take my other hand off the wheel for a few seconds, but I'm not prepared to put it into full auto mode.

You can have Adaptive Cruise Control without Auto-Steer enabled but it's not possible to have it the other-way around.

It is WAY less work than actually driving. You maintain your alertness, but it takes away much of the physical load of driving. It might even preserve your alertness.

It's the BEST THING EVER in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Also you can steer yourself and let it maintain the distance to the car in front of you by turning on only Traffic Aware Cruise Control.

That said, you should be alert while you use it. If you're a text-while-you-drive person, the only positive thing I can say is it protects other people from you.

>"...our data shows that, when used properly by an attentive driver who is prepared to take control at all times

If it needs vigilance at all times to be safe, then it's no "autopilot".

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