TO THE EDITOR:
Tesla recalls nearly 363,000 cars because its Full Self-Driving system runs through yellow lights and is reluctant to adjust speed in variable speed zones? ("NHTSA prompts Tesla to recall 363,000 models over Full Self-Driving crash risk," autonews.com, Feb. 16).
Gee, we humans do the same thing. Humans are (maybe) capable of learning better road behavior; is an electronic zap likely to put Tesla's system on the straight and narrow? Only until the next programming glitch, which will appear shortly.
Until about 2030, a user of Tesla's or any other "self-driving" system uses it at his or her own risk. Tesla warns owners flat-out to stay alert and keep their hands on the steering wheel while using its system. That is what human drivers do already. Humans can get stupid enough while driving without electronic gadgets adding their own layer.
Tesla et al. and car insurance companies cover their legal liability by "pay attention, and keep your hands on the wheel" disclaimers. As such programs are unlikely to "succeed" until they have input from all 8 billion humans on the planet and built-in "knowledge" of every traffic pattern/accident since the first auto-human fatality in 1899, after 2030, autonomous driving will likely be banned by law.
NORMAN HIGBY, Menlo Park, Calif.
