Is it safe to text while riding in a self-driving Tesla? That's the burning question on everyone's minds as we explore the controversial world of autonomous vehicles. With self-driving cars becoming a reality, Tesla is determined to stay in the game, but at what cost?
Meet Geoff Perlman, a tech executive from Texas, who's been testing Tesla's latest self-driving software. He's impressed by its abilities, but even he draws the line at texting while driving.
"Staring at your phone while hurtling down the highway in a heavy vehicle? That's just asking for trouble," Geoff says.
But Tesla CEO Elon Musk seems to have a different opinion. He's stated that they'll "allow you to text and drive essentially."
This statement has safety advocates up in arms. Michael Brooks, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, puts it bluntly: "Tesla is essentially saying they'll let their drivers break the law."
Tesla offers two automated options: Autopilot with automatic lane centering, and the more advanced Full Self Driving (FSD) software. FSD can even summon your car via an app! But here's the catch: both systems require constant driver supervision, which brings us back to the texting debate.
Musk argues that if people are going to text anyway (and surveys show they do), it's safer to do so with Tesla's software. After all, cars with FSD features have seven times fewer major collisions, according to Tesla.
However, experts question the reliability of Tesla's safety data, as the company doesn't share it for external review. US regulators have also launched investigations into Tesla's software, citing issues like random braking and non-compliance with basic traffic rules.
Cathy Chase, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, expresses serious concerns: "Until we have independent assurances that any vehicle can perform all driving tasks, drivers should not be distracted."
Youssef Kamal, a Tesla owner from New Jersey, agrees. He says he wouldn't rely on Tesla to navigate while texting, but he still checks his phone during his commute, despite warnings and a recent close call.
"It gets me from A to B, but that's about it," Youssef admits.
Others, like Ernie Gorrie, have had different experiences. His car still struggles with basic signals, even after five years with FSD software.
"It's improved, but it's still far from a fully self-driving car," Ernie, 73, says.
Last year, under pressure from regulators, Tesla added '(Supervised)' to its FSD title. This month, an administrative judge in California ordered Tesla to change its Autopilot name or face a sales ban.
Tesla is also facing lawsuits from customers and shareholders, alleging violations from fraud to design defects.
The company has also come under scrutiny for its driver monitoring practices. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating changes Tesla promised in 2023, after a previous probe found 'foreseeable' misuse of Autopilot in fatal accidents.
In August, a Miami jury ordered Tesla to pay $243 million in damages over a fatal 2019 crash involving Autopilot. The jury found that Tesla didn't have adequate measures to track driver attentiveness or prevent system misuse.
Tesla's appeal argues that the driver was at fault.
As Tesla expands its FSD into new markets, experts like Simeon Calvert, professor of automated driving at Delft University of Technology, say they must address safety concerns. In Europe, for example, carmakers are required to have strategies to warn inattentive drivers.
"They're playing a high-risk game," Prof. Calvert says. "If their systems struggle, it could damage their reputation."
And this is the part most people miss: while Tesla grabs headlines, its rivals are quietly making progress. Waymo, for instance, dominates the US robotaxi space with over 2,500 fully driverless taxis and plans to expand to London.
So, is texting in a self-driving Tesla crazy? You decide. But one thing's for sure: the future of autonomous driving is full of twists and turns.
