Consumer Reports Warns Tesla's Automatic Lane Change Feature Poses Safety Risks
Consumer Reports slams Tesla's automatic lane-change feature as far less competent than a human driver. The advocacy group warns the system actually increases stress and cuts off other vehicles instead of improving safety.
Consumer Reports issues a strong warning about Tesla’s automatic lane-change feature on its Navigate on Autopilot system, calling it "far less competent" than a human driver. The consumer advocacy organization tests the latest version of Tesla’s advanced driver assistance system and finds that it demonstrates startling behavior that poses potential safety risks on the highway.
During testing, reviewers discover that the system lags behind human driving skills and engages in problematic actions such as cutting off other cars and passing on the right. The organization highlights a particularly troubling issue where Tesla's rearward-facing cameras fail to detect fast-approaching objects as effectively as an average driver, forcing testers to frequently intervene to prevent poor decisions.
Tesla defends the feature by pointing out that it is not the default setting and notes that drivers successfully complete millions of automated lane changes. However, Consumer Reports maintains that the core issue is the danger posed to drivers who are not fully alert, arguing that a system requiring constant emergency intervention defeats its supposed purpose of reducing stress and improving safety.