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Video Shows a Guy Asleep at the Wheel of a Tesla on the Mass Pike (bostonmagazine.com)
27 points by rrauenza on Sept 10, 2019 | hide | past | favorite | 12 comments


From the Twitter thread there's these startling stats: https://www.cdc.gov/Features/dsDrowsyDriving/index.html

> Researchers estimate that more than 70 million Americans suffer from a sleep disorder (Institute of Medicine, 2005)

> An estimated 1 in 25 adult drivers (aged 18 years or older) report having fallen asleep while driving in the previous 30 days.1,2

> The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that drowsy driving was responsible for 72,000 crashes, 44,000 injuries, and 800 deaths in 2013.3 However, these numbers are underestimated and up to 6,000 fatal crashes each year may be caused by drowsy drivers.4-5


Theoretically, if honking doesn't help, does it help to drive in front of the Tesla and slowly brake to convince the autopilot to either beep the driver awake or come to a stop?


You have to view the good with the bad. I am not a Tesla fanboy, and I've seen dozens of accidents on the same road where drivers fell asleep and the car kept going.

Just last month I saw a young girl's car go into a ditch in Indianapolis because she was working 3 jons to survive. The sleepiness just overpowers you before you know it, even though in the back of your mind you shouldn't be on the road.

60MPH isn't good but it's better to have autopilot that doesn't kill anyone.


Tesla... Saving the lives of sleepy divers since 2018


Can we also mention, though, the guy who's shooting a cell phone video while driving on the Mass Pike?


It could have been a passenger taking the video while he was driving. At least, in the video, it appears the person recording is using both hands on the device for a moment, and I doubt anyone driving would dare to completely let go of the wheel at high-speed.


Your appraisal of the denizens of that highway is far more generous than mine...


I am beginning to think that these videos are staged. We all know that these type of videos will go viral.

My big question is why don't the people that take them bothered to get the license plate. If they are so concerned then why wouldn't they take the license plate and let the police know first?


Really?


You don’t say...


Dang that's crazy... next feature for Tesla: detect if you're asleep and play a sound to wake you up.


The article says it already does that.




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