Study Reveals Rampant Misuse of Tesla Autopilot: A Call for Stronger Safeguards Against Distracted Driving

Research reveals that motorists are improperly exploiting Tesla's Autopilot feature

According to recent research released on Tuesday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), systems designed to assist drivers, such as Tesla's Autopilot, aim to decrease accidents. However, as drivers become more familiar with these systems, the likelihood of distraction increases.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and MIT's AgeLab conducted individual research on Autopilot and Volvo's Pilot Assist. Results from both investigations indicated that although drivers maintained the minimal level of attention needed for these "partial automation" systems, as termed by the IIHS, they were prone to distraction-related activities.

In a research project, a team examined the alterations in driving patterns amongst 29 participants who were provided with a 2017 Volvo S90 featuring Pilot Assist over a period of four weeks. The study concentrated on the propensity of the participants to partake in activities unrelated to driving while utilizing Pilot Assist on highways, in comparison to their driving habits without the assistance on highways.

Assistance for drivers, featured in the 2017 model of

The research indicated that motorists frequently engaged in activities such as looking at their phones or eating while driving when using driver assistance systems. This behavior tended to escalate as drivers became more comfortable with the technology. However, the studies also noted that certain drivers were prone to distractions right from the beginning.

The subsequent research observed the on-road conduct of 14 participants operating a 2020 Tesla Model 3 with Autopilot features for a month-long period. This examination selected individuals who had no prior experience with Autopilot or similar technologies, concentrating on the frequency at which drivers elicited the system's alert notifications.

Investigators discovered that new users of Autopilot swiftly became adept at understanding the timing of its alert system, enabling them to avert more severe measures like abrupt deceleration or being barred from the system.

Upcoming 2024 Model from

"According to IIHS President David Harvey, drivers in both studies altered their actions to partake in diversions. He emphasized in his statement that this is a clear indication of the necessity for stronger protective measures in semi-automated systems to avoid improper use."

Earlier in the year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) announced, based on an alternative set of data, that systems designed to assist drivers do not enhance safety. Consequently, they have recommended the implementation of additional safety surveillance within vehicles to avoid a decrease in overall safety. In March 2024, after conducting evaluations on 14 different driver-assistance technologies from nine different manufacturers, the IIHS concluded that the majority could be misused with relative ease. Specifically, the Autopilot feature was singled out for giving drivers a false impression of its actual capabilities.

The deficiencies of Autopilot have caught the eye of American safety officials. In a recent recall, Tesla had to limit the functions of its Full Self-Driving Beta feature, which was deemed by authorities as a hazard to vehicular safety. Nonetheless, Tesla persists in using the deceptive term Full Self-Driving, even though the system does not provide full autonomous driving.

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