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Tesla driver banned for M1 autopilot seat-switch

  • 28-04-2018 8:22pm
    #1
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 31,118 ✭✭✭✭


    http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-43934504

    The silly sod should have at least looked like he was "driving" the car.
    A driver who moved into the passenger seat after putting his electric car into autopilot while at 40mph on a motorway has been banned from driving.

    Bhavesh Patel, 39, of Alfreton Road, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at St Albans Crown Court.

    A witness in another car filmed him sitting in the passenger seat of his Tesla S 60 on the M1 between junctions 8 and 9 near Hemel Hempstead.

    Patel said he was the "unlucky one who got caught", the court was told.

    The footage was posted on social media before it was reported to the police.

    The law tends to throw the book at people who try to "jump the gun" when it comes to advances in technology.
    Having said that, autopilot isn't self driving, it's assisted driving.


Comments

  • #2
    Kenny Logins
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,060 ✭✭✭Kenny Logins


    Has the Tesla been banned from driving him too?


  • #3
    kirving
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,129 ✭✭✭kirving


    I'd trust a Tesla be on Autopilot ahead of 50% of humans on the road. He really should have set it to more than 40mph though.


  • #4
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 31,118 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Kenny Logins wrote: »
    Has the Tesla been banned from driving him too?
    "self" driving vehicles will open up a (huge) can of worms when it comes to legal matters, particularity, when it comes to who (what) broke the law if the car gets a speeding ticket (from a camera) for example.


  • #5
    vectra
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,626 ✭✭✭✭vectra


    Deleted User wrote: »
    "self" driving vehicles will open up a (huge) can of worms when it comes to legal matters, particularity, when it comes to who (what) broke the law if the car gets a speeding ticket (from a camera) for example.

    Or even going home from the pub after a few pints.
    "Who was driving" ??


  • #6
    the_syco
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,316 ✭✭✭✭the_syco


    vectra wrote: »
    "Who was driving" ??
    Well, if we call the OS of the car "god"...


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  • #7
    dr.fuzzenstein
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 16,620 ✭✭✭✭dr.fuzzenstein


    What amazes me is that he is doing 40 mph and yet he's flying past everyone else.
    Do they drive 30 mph on the motorway in the UK?
    I'd advocate points for dawdling along at 60 km/h on the motorway.


  • #8
    fleet
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 546 ✭✭✭fleet


    [Deleted User] wrote: »
    "self" driving vehicles will open up a (huge) can of worms when it comes to legal matters, particularity, when it comes to who (what) broke the law if the car gets a speeding ticket (from a camera) for example.

    This is oft quoted, but I don't see why.

    Insurance companies will insure the car, not the driver. Fines go to the insurance company. If the car crashes and damages someone or something it'll be up to the court to decide the appropriate fine, and the insurance will pay out.

    If it kills someone it'll be an edge case, because the car does not drink, or intentionally act carelessly, or get tired etc. As such a stiff fine (excuse the pun) will be sufficient, and the insurance companies can decide whether they want to take the risk on a particular car make, model and firmware revision.

    Note: some "trolly car", "who do I kill if I have to kill someone" design decisions will have to be made, and there may have to be some standard algorithms that are common to all cars.

    You cannot reanimate the dead. Whether a machine or a human was responsible doesn't matter. All you can hope to do is remove the responsible party from the road and make an example of them so others don't make the same mistake.

    Mistakes will happen, but fewer and fewer as the cars improve. I'll hang my hat on single digit numbers per annum for Ireland once we're fully automated.


  • #9
    Glass fused light
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,576 ✭✭✭Glass fused light


    fleet wrote: »
    This is oft quoted, but I don't see why.

    Insurance companies will insure the car, not the driver. Fines go to the insurance company. If the car crashes and damages someone or something it'll be up to the court to decide the appropriate fine, and the insurance will pay out.

    If it kills someone it'll be an edge case, because the car does not drink, or intentionally act carelessly, or get tired etc. As such a stiff fine (excuse the pun) will be sufficient, and the insurance companies can decide whether they want to take the risk on a particular car make, model and firmware revision.

    Note: some "trolly car", "who do I kill if I have to kill someone" design decisions will have to be made, and there may have to be some standard algorithms that are common to all cars.

    You cannot reanimate the dead. Whether a machine or a human was responsible doesn't matter. All you can hope to do is remove the responsible party from the road and make an example of them so others don't make the same mistake.

    Mistakes will happen, but fewer and fewer as the cars improve. I'll hang my hat on single digit numbers per annum for Ireland once we're fully automated.

    A lot of our legistation is designed around the knowledge that a guilty party will try to wiggle out of taking responsibility. You can be done for drink driving if a Garda forms the opinion that your are in control and about to drive eg opening the drivers door or being found asleep in the drivers seat with the keys. Similar the owner is sent the driving ticket and if they can't nominate a third party they have to convince a judge it was not them.

    I suspect that, as with the UK case, failing to have a human in control in the driving seat will remain in effect. IMO this will be due to the "who do I have to kill decisions" most people won't buy a car where they loose the choice between them and the other guy. If its always the driver as the standard algorithm it become a "how many do I have to kill decision". It's why the collision buffer zone is viewed as being so important.

    As for Mr Patel if he actually said that he was just "unlucky" to have been caught he should not get a licence again until the roads are fully automated.


  • #10
    grogi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,616 ✭✭✭grogi


    Deleted User wrote: »
    "self" driving vehicles will open up a (huge) can of worms when it comes to legal matters, particularity, when it comes to who (what) broke the law if the car gets a speeding ticket (from a camera) for example.

    Self driving cars will be fine. But right now we have "self" driving cars - they give one only the illusion of self driving (tesla will keep on its own for couple of minutes) while driver should remained focused. It is human nature - the driver will not...


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