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Tesla-style ‘autopilot’ lull motorists into false sense of security, says RSA

Tesla says drivers understand the limits of Autopilot - Bloomberg News
Tesla says drivers understand the limits of Autopilot - Bloomberg News

Driving assistance software such as Tesla’s Autopilot risks lulling motorists into a false sense of security, one of Britain’s biggest car insurers has warned.

RSA, which operates the More Than brand, said the rise of driving aids that keep cars in their lanes and respond to traffic around them “are in danger of giving the false impression of a level of autonomy not yet available”. A report from the insurer into driverless cars warns that risks from the technology are likely to rise as such semi-autonomous features become more common.

“Drivers could be lulled into a false sense of security by the marketing of new driver assistance features making their way into cars. Some terms such as ‘autopilot’ are in danger of giving the false impression of a level of autonomy not yet available,” the report states.

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“More specific and rigorous descriptors are required to describe and categorise vehicle automation, so that the risk they pose for the driver is more accurately rated for insurance purposes.”

It comes after high-profile accidents involving Tesla’s Autopilot technology, including the death of a driver in March. Tesla has insisted that the technology makes driving safer, and that drivers understand the system is not fully autonomous. Rival insurer Direct Line has given Tesla drivers a 5pc discount if they have Autopilot.

About | Vehicle autonomy levels
About | Vehicle autonomy levels

“The feedback that we get from our customers shows that they have a very clear understanding of what Autopilot is, how to properly use it, and what features it consists of,” a Tesla spokesman said.

“When using Autopilot, drivers are continuously reminded of their responsibility to keep their hands on the wheel and maintain control of the vehicle at all times. This is designed to prevent driver misuse, and is among the strongest driver-misuse safeguards of any kind on the road today.”

RSA’s report comes after the insurer was part of a trial of driverless vehicle technology in Greenwich.

It said that insurance companies will need wide access to data after crashes, something that might be complicated by the GDPR data laws that came into force this year and requires stricter controls on personal information.

Insurers have proposed that industry body the Motor Insurers’ Bureau be a central repository for crash data after driverless car accidents.