Tesla Model S crash in Florida reminds Chinese drivers to keep eyes wide open to limits of driverless technology
Hong Kong and mainland consumers express confidence in American electric car maker, but say driverless technology will not replace humans anytime soon, especially with such complicated and crowded roads in the country
As carmakers race to create a driverless future, local consumers are revealing their hesitancy to rely on a fully autonomous vehicle after a Tesla driver died in a crash that took place while his car was in autopilot mode.
“Self-driving technology is a work in progress. As drivers, we still have to bear responsibility when we are in the driver’s seat,” said Kristy Lau, a Hong Kong owner of Tesla’s saloon Model S.
“We shouldn’t rely just on the car. We have to keep our eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.”
But Lau said the accident would not affect her confidence in the American electric car maker.
Tesla said in a statement on Thursday that a Model S driver had been killed in a fatal crash in the US state of Florida while using the car’s autopilot system. The incident is the first known fatality tied to autonomous cars. The US National Highway Transportation Safety Administration is beginning a preliminary evaluation of the performance of the autopilot system, the firm said.
The accident occurred on a divided highway when a tractor trailer drove across the road perpendicular to the Model S. Neither the autopilot system nor the driver noticed the white side of the tractor trailer against a brightly lit sky, so the brakes were not applied, Tesla said.