Hyperdrive
Tesla's Autopilot Found Most Likely to Confuse Drivers on Safety
- IIHS says automated-driving system names spur misunderstanding
- Almost half of drivers think Autopilot means hands-off is OK
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Automakers including Tesla Inc. are stoking confusion among motorists by choosing names for their automated-driving systems that wrongly suggest they’re more capable than is actually the case, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Almost half of respondents to an IIHS survey considered it safe to drive with their hands off the steering wheel when using a system called Autopilot, the nonprofit vehicle-safety advocate said Thursday. That’s the name Tesla chose for its driver-assistance system that’s been in use during several fatal crashes since 2016.