Jesse Lyu, a California technology company founder, escaped injury when his Tesla, operating on autopilot, mistakenly navigated onto a train track in Santa Monica. This near-miss incident, while using the vehicle's advanced driving technology, sparked concerns and debate over the safety of autonomous vehicles.
In a harrowing experience, Jesse Lyu narrowly avoided a train after his Tesla's autopilot system erroneously directed him onto train tracks according to The San Francisco Gate.
Jesse Lyu, CEO of a tech firm named Rabbit, relied on the autopilot and full self-driving (FSD) capabilities of his Tesla for commuting.
These features, which cost an additional $10,000, are designed to manage driving tasks with minimal driver input. Lyu's regular commutes between his apartment and his office in downtown Santa Monica were typically uneventful thanks to this technology.
However, the day before Lyu reported the incident, his commute took a dangerous turn. While using the Autopilot feature, the Tesla made a critical error at a stoplight on Colorado Avenue. Instead of following the car lane, it veered onto a light rail track, presenting an unexpected hazard.
A concrete barrier and a fence along the track prevented Lyu from steering back onto the road. Faced with an oncoming train, he was forced to manually override the Autopilot and make a risky maneuver to escape. He accelerated and ran a red light, narrowly avoiding the train, which had fortunately stopped a block away.
Following the incident, Lyu parked his car at his office and quickly took to social media to share the dashcam video.
His post on platform X rapidly gained traction, amassing over 690,000 views. The footage sparked a wide discussion about the reliability of Tesla’s autopilot system and its safety implications.
Among the online reactions, some users suggested that Lyu should have intervened sooner. However, Lyu explained that Tesla’s unexpected path made it challenging to take control in time. He emphasized the difficulty in altering the vehicle's direction due to the automated steering's precision.
Lyu described the incident vividly, recalling his shock and the immediate danger he faced. "It’s just fucking crazy," he stated. "I’ve got nowhere to go. And, you can tell from behind … the train’s right here." These words highlighted the severity of the situation and his frustration during the moment of crisis.
Lyu's primary intention in sharing the video wasn’t just to highlight his experience but to call attention to what he perceives as a significant flaw in Tesla's Autopilot system. "This is a serious problem, and regardless of how a human reacts, the autopilot algorithm should never put any of their vehicles onto the train track. That’s just fundamentally wrong," he expressed.
He also shared his motivations for using and promoting the autopilot feature, emphasizing his desire for further improvements. "I like to try it; I like to use it. The reason I’m sharing this is that as a customer, I want this feature to be better," Lyu said, pointing towards constructive feedback rather than mere criticism.
While Tesla has been at the forefront of developing self-driving technology, its decision to mainly rely on cameras and not include lidar—a tool used by other companies like Waymo—raises questions about the best approach to autonomous driving safety. Elon Musk has repeatedly voiced high expectations for Tesla's technology, claiming it will become "superhuman" and significantly safer than human driving.
The incident involving Jesse Lyu underscores ongoing debates around the reliability and safety of autonomous driving technology.
As these systems take on more driving tasks, the expectations for their ability to handle complex traffic situations increase. However, experiences like Lyu’s illustrate the potential flaws and risks still present in current technologies.
The discussion extends beyond just Tesla, touching on broader concerns about the regulation, development, and acceptance of self-driving vehicles in daily traffic.
The balance between innovation and safety continues to be a pivotal aspect of the automotive industry's forward momentum.
While Lyu walked away unharmed, his ordeal serves as a reminder of the challenges and responsibilities facing companies like Tesla as they pave the way for the future of transportation. It emphasizes the need for continuous improvement and stringent testing of autopilot technologies before they can truly be trusted to take the wheel.