Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Feature Leads to Railway Track Incident in Santa Monica
A Closer Look at the Alarming Scene
A Tesla vehicle equipped with the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature found itself on railroad tracks in Santa Monica, California, in an alarming incident that has raised serious questions about the technology’s reliability. The vehicle, owned by Jesse Lyu, founder of AI company Rabbit, recorded the entire driving situation when the incident occurred.
The vehicle, entering Colorado Avenue from an intersection, made a sharp turn and ended up on the LA Metro E Line tracks. These tracks run parallel to the road, and the FSD system failed to correct the vehicle’s course, leading it directly onto the rails.
The Road-Like Tracks and Unforeseen Danger
The tracks where the incident occurred were designed to resemble road lanes. At first glance, they appeared part of the road, with flat-lying rails that allowed vehicles to enter quickly. However, they were bordered by fences and concrete ledges, creating a confined space that made it difficult for the Tesla to exit once it had entered.
Adding to the danger, a train was approaching from behind the car. The driver, unable to move the vehicle due to the surrounding obstacles, was in a panic-inducing situation. With a bus and pedestrians in the way at a traffic light, the driver could not exit the tracks in time, leaving the vehicle stuck in a potentially life-threatening position.
Train Driver Responds to Avoid Collision
The driver eventually had to ignore the signal and run the red light to avoid colliding with the train. He described the situation as extremely dangerous, and his life was in great danger. In an interview, he said, ” The train was right behind me, so I couldn’t move forward or backward,” conveying his feelings at the time.
The situation quickly spread through social media, sparking controversy over the safety and reliability of Tesla’s FSD. Meanwhile, Tesla has stated that FSD is not a fully autonomous driving technology and requires constant attention from the driver.
Fully self-driving technology
Future challenges to be addressed
This incident shows that Tesla’s FSD technology still needs improvement. The system’s limitations in distinguishing between roads and railroad tracks are revealed.
In addition, the lack of driver attention is also a problem. Tesla emphasizes that drivers should always pay attention to road conditions even when using the FSD function, but this accident shows that these warnings were not correctly followed.
