- Research Shows Tesla Drivers Are Distracted While Using Autopilot
- Tesla Autopilot: A Hands-On Driver-Assist System, Not Hands-Off
- Study Recommends Enhanced Safeguards to Prevent Misuse of Autopilot
Driver-assist systems like Tesla’s Autopilot aim to decrease the occurrence of accidents. However, a recent study published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reveals that drivers are more likely to be distracted as they become accustomed to these systems, which the IIHS classifies as “partial automation” systems.
Both Tesla’s Autopilot and Volvo’s Pilot Assist were subjects of separate studies conducted by the IIHS and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s AgeLab. The findings indicated that drivers tended to engage in distracting activities while still meeting the minimum attention requirements of these systems.
The study involving 29 volunteers driving a Pilot Assist-equipped 2017 Volvo S90 over four weeks showed that drivers were more prone to distractions such as using their phones or eating a sandwich while utilizing the system on highways compared to unassisted driving.
Pilot Assist, in 2017 Volvo S90
The second study, which involved 14 volunteers driving a 2020 Tesla Model 3 equipped with Autopilot, found that new users quickly learned to avoid triggering the system’s attention warnings.
2024 Tesla Model 3
IIHS President David Harvey emphasized the need for more stringent safeguards in partial automation systems to prevent misuse, as evidenced by the studies’ results.
Earlier this year, the IIHS reported that assisted driving systems do not improve safety and advocated for enhanced in-car safety monitoring to counteract any negative impact on safety. In a March 2024 testing of 14 driver-assist systems, including Autopilot, the IIHS found that many systems were prone to misuse, with Autopilot leading to driver confusion regarding its actual capabilities.
Tesla’s Autopilot has faced scrutiny from U.S. safety regulators, prompting a recall in 2023 to restrict the behavior of its Full Self-Driving Beta system, which regulators deemed a safety risk. Despite lacking full self-driving capabilities, Tesla continues to market the system as such.