A Tesla Model Y driver with a suspended license crashed into a Michigan State Police car parked on the side of I-96 early this morning. The car was on autopilot, Tesla’s famous driver assistance feature.
The police were investigating a crash involving a deer and a car when the Model Y struck their cruiser. Fortunately, no one was injured in the accident. Both vehicles were damaged, however, and the 22-year old man in the Model Y was issued a citation for violating Michigan’s Move Over Law, and for driving with a suspended license.
“Michigan’s Move Over Law requires motorists to slow down and move over for stationary authorized vehicles with flashing, rotating, or oscillating lights activated,” according to the Michigan Office Of Highway Safety Planning.
Crashes like these most often happen when someone puts too much trust into the Tesla Autopilot system. Autopilot is a driver assistance feature, and does not currently offer fully autonomous driving. People are very excited about Autopilot and its features, (it is new technology after all) but it is easy to forget it is not yet meant to be what gets you from Point A to Point B.
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