A recent viral video showcasing a Tesla allegedly using its Autopilot feature during an emergency plane landing has been debunked. The Tesla driver admitted he had full manual control of the vehicle. All of this occurred while a light aircraft was successfully, and without injury, forced down in a highway right-of-way in Oklahoma. This revelation is important to unpack because it exposes deeply ingrained misunderstandings about Tesla’s driver-assistance features, especially the misleading marketing and public perception that has plagued Autopilot.
Tesla’s Autopilot system has been the target of quite a bit of praise and scorn. The vehicle’s driver-assistance features are classified as Level 2 automation. That includes approach with the idea that you need to be engaged and focused 100 percent of the time when you’re driving. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has personally encouraged that dangerous expectation since 2013 with his relentless promotion of Autopilot. This constant advocacy has resulted in some misunderstandings about what the system can do.
Regulatory Perspectives on Level 2 Automation
In both the United States and the United Kingdom, regulators have stressed that Tesla’s driver-assistance features are considered Level 2 automation. This designation means that although the vehicle is able to help with some driving functions, it’s not a self-driving car just yet. With such technology in use, drivers are needed to keep their hands on the wheel and prepared to take control at a moment’s notice.
This renewed focus on Level 2 automation is particularly timely given a number of recent crashes involving Teslas. Notably, a 2018 fatal crash in California involved a driver who was playing a game on his phone while his vehicle’s Autopilot was active. This tragic event resulted in the Tesla crashing into a barrier, prompting further scrutiny of how driver-assistance technologies are marketed and perceived by the public.
The Debate Over Marketing and Responsibility
Advocates and critics of Tesla’s unconventional marketing strategies have criticized the way Autopilot is promoted. They claim that marketing it like a true driverless system would lead to hazardous misperceptions by drivers. Some argue that these types of promotions would be considered reckless because they do little to reinforce that drivers should be attentive and accountable.
This creates the potential for a dangerous cycle that the debunked video incident only encourages. At first, the narrative based on an enthusiastic social media post was that a Tesla had autonomously landed a light airplane. Unlike many internal posts, this one went viral almost immediately, attracting huge public attention. The driver’s confirmation that he manually controlled the vehicle during the landing underscores the importance of clear communication regarding the limitations of Tesla’s technology.
