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Tesla Drivers Do ‘Crazy Things’ While Autopilot Is Engaged, Musk Issues Statement

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Telsa Motors’ CEO Elon Musk told reporter in a Sunday teleconference that its self-driving software will be updated to limit its use on residential roads after customers posted YouTube videos of themselves reading books in the backseat while the autopilot function was engaged.

The electric vehicle company’s CEO Elon Musk announced in a teleconference that Tesla’s autopilot feature, which has gained recognition for its innovation but also crticicism for being trotted out too early, will be updated to restrict its use on residential roads with divider lines.

Musk went on to say he thought the restriction was necessary to keep people from doing “crazy things” while the autopilot function is engaged.

Tesla shared the new software update the day before the Detroit’s North American International Auto Show — which is routinely seen as an important conference where auto giants reveal new vehicle models.

This year’s auto show will also reveal VW’s attempt at building back the customer trust it lost in its brand after the emissions cheating scandal — the German vehicle company will reveal its new plug-in hybrid concept vehicle, the Tiguan.

When Tesla first revealed its hands-free Model S vehicles in October, Musk warned that the new technology may not be fully fleshed-out, as the autopilot function was still in testing mode, adding that the hand-free function is not recommended for all driving scenarios.

Even so, customers posted a slew of videos on the Internet showing themselves narrowly avoiding accidents in auto-pilot mode, prompting Musk to suggest that the company needs to adjust the software to keep people from doing dangerous things.

Musk also told reporters during the teleconference that Tesla’ “hands-free” function will be “significantly better than human beings,” assuring the conference’s participants that within two years, the Tesla will be able to be “summoned,” like Lassie, from miles away.

“So, let’s say, if you’re in New York and your car is in Los Angeles, it will find its way to you,” he said about the new function, adding that the technology will need constant upgrades. “You’ll need a lot of redundancy.  More cameras, more radars…and redundant electronics,” he added.

”I might be slightly optimistic on that, but I don’t think significantly optimistic that we can do that in two years,” Musk said.

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