Tesla Driver Offers Further Proof People Are Complete Idiots
If you’re wondering how many times this website has complained about people mishandling semi-autonomous driving systems, we’ve completely lost count. However, if you want further evidence that we are justified in constantly wringing our hands over the matter, you’re in luck.
On April 20th, Bhavesh Patel plead guilty to “dangerous driving” at St. Albans Crown Court in the United Kingdom. The term driving is a bit of a misnomer, though. Because Patel was actually sitting in the passenger seat of his Tesla Model S 60, while his vehicle traveled down the motorway driver free. The incident, which took place in May of last year, was caught by a fellow commuter and subsequently reported to authorities. Obviously, we had to find footage of the unbridled stupidity.
The court settled on an 18-month driving ban and 100 hours of community service. According to The Guardian, he’ll also be forced to pay a court fee of £1,800.
“He not only endangered his own life but the lives of other innocent people using the motorway on that day. This case should serve as an example to all drivers who have access to [Autopilot] controls and have thought about attempting something similar,” said Police Constable Kirk Caldicutt. “I want to stress that they are in no way a substitute for a competent motorist in the driving seat who can react appropriately to the road ahead. I hope Patel uses his disqualification period to reflect on why he chose to make such a reckless decision on that day.”
Tesla Motors has attempted to improve Autopilot by requiring drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel after a fatal incident in Florida. It has also been adamant that the system is not intended to replace an alert driver. Unfortunately, that has not stopped individuals from abusing driving aids and autonomous hardware that’s still in its infancy.
The Hertfordshire Constabulary said Patel admitted he knew what he had done something “silly” when interviewed, but wanted to test the vehicle’s “amazing” features. He then claimed he was simply the “unlucky one who got caught.”
[Image: David Marek/The Truth About Cars]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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I guess news of Tesla Autopilot "failures/misuses" don't make it all the way across the pond.
Brits are little eccentric, thats all.