Last week, we watched in amazement as a driver’s dash cam captured a Tesla automatically braking and avoiding what could have been a horrendous accident on 99 just north of downtown Seattle.
The driver, Seattlelite Jon Hall, posted the video claiming that the latest autopilot update from Tesla saved the day.
Now, Consumer Reports refutes that theory in a piece called “Reality Check: It Wasn’t Tesla’s Autopilot that Prevented Crash in Viral Video.” CR states that that kind of “advanced safety system” is already available across many makes and models — and Tesla’s autopilot mode can’t claim the credit here.
“The reality is that forward-collision warning with automatic braking is the hero — a feature that many brands offer across the price spectrum,” the CR piece states.
“Tesla’s Autopilot suite performs an array of safety and convenience functions, pushing this electric car further toward automated driving. However, what saved the day (or night in this case) was the car’s ability to sense the closing speed of another vehicle and take action to prevent a collision. This system is referenced in the auto industry as forward-collision warning with autobrake. It has been available on the Tesla for more than a year—well before the recent software updates that included Autopilot.”
Somehow “forward-collision warning with autobrake” just doesn’t sound as sexy as “autopilot.” It’s like thinking you were saved by Superman, and you found out he really is just a junior reporter with bad glasses.
Buzzkill aside, it’s good to know that this kind of technology is already available in many vehicles. Driving may become a “hobby” by 2035 thanks to the self-driving car revolution, but for now keep paying attention. And if you’re testing your Tesla’s Autopilot, keep your hands on the wheel.
Hall’s original video below:
