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Consumer Reports calls for Tesla to disable autopilot feature

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On Thursday Consumer Reports called for Tesla Motors to disable the autopilot feature on its vehicles, even saying  the term "autopilot" is misleading and dangerous. link to the Tesla article:

The demand comes following crashes involving Teslas when the autopilot was engaged, including a crash Sunday involving a Woodinville man.

Tesla acknowledged autopilot was on when the driver crashed on a narrow road in Montana. He he wasn't injured. Tesla indicated autopilot wasn't used correctly, and the man told CNN his hands weren't on the wheel.

In May Joshua Brown was killed when he crashed his Tesla into a truck while on autopilot in Florida. The truck driver told investigators he thought Brown was watching a movie.

"It was very unsettling to see that," said John Kannin of Seattle, who showed KIRO 7 his Tesla S he got two weeks ago.

He tried autopilot right away.

"You become to rely on the technology," said Kannin. "And then it started beeping. I was like, 'Did I do something wrong?'  No, just put your hands on the wheel. You need to have your hands on the wheel."

Kannin said he studied the owner's manual, which made it clear how to safely operate the autopilot feature and he believes it is safe.

"It's like any piece of machinery," said Kannin. "You have to know how to operate it. If you're not operating it properly, then it would be a driver error."

Today Consumer Reports called for Tesla to do the following:

  • Disable Autosteer until it can require drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel.
  • Stop referring to the system as "autopilot" as it is misleading.
  • Issue clearer guidance for use.
  • Test it fully -- no more beta releases.

Kannin disagrees.

"I'm going to keep using it," he said. "I am going to be careful about it."

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