(Mis-)use of standard Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta: Results from interviews with users of Tesla's FSD Beta

Abstract

Tesla's Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD) program introduces technology that extends the operational design domain of standard Autopilot from highways to urban roads. This research conducted 103 in-depth semi-structured interviews with users of Tesla's FSD Beta and standard Autopilot to evaluate the impact on user behavior and perception. It was found that drivers became complacent over time with Autopilot engaged, failing to monitor the system, and engaging in safety-critical behaviors, such as hands-free driving, enabled by weights placed on the steering wheel, mind wandering, or sleeping behind the wheel. Drivers' movement of eyes, hands, and feet became more relaxed with experience with Autopilot engaged. FSD Beta required constant supervision as unfinished technology, which increased driver stress and mental and physical workload as drivers had to be constantly prepared for unsafe system behavior (doing the wrong thing at the worst time). The hands-on wheel check was not considered as being necessarily effective in driver monitoring and guaranteeing safe use. Drivers adapt to automation over time, engaging in potentially dangerous behaviors. Some behavior seems to be a knowing violation of intended use (e.g., weighting the steering wheel), and other behavior reflects a misunderstanding or lack of experience (e.g., using Autopilot on roads not designed for). As unfinished Beta technology, FSD Beta can introduce new forms of stress and can be inherently unsafe. We recommend future research to investigate to what extent these behavioral changes affect accident risk and can be alleviated through driver state monitoring and assistance.

Do driver’s characteristics, system performance, perceived safety, and trust influence how drivers use partial automation? A structural equation modelling analysis

“…Undertrust and disuse can diminish the projected benefits of higher automation levels. In our recent interview study with 103 users of Tesla’s Autopilot and Full-Self-Driving (FSD) Beta system, overtrust in Level 2 capability was associated with eyes-off, mind-off and fatigued driving (e.g., drivers actively manipulating the steering wheel, and falling asleep behind the steering wheel with Autopilot engaged) ( Nordhoff et al, 2023 ). Disuse refers to not using automation when it would, in fact, be beneficial ( Lee, 2008 ).…”

Letter to the Editor: Update on Experiences of a Driver with Vision Impairment when Using a Tesla Car—Full Self-driving (Beta) in City Driving

“…The patient in this study, like normally sighted drivers who used partially and conditionally automated driving systems in prior studies, 3–5 reported an increased frequency of long-distance trips after using Tesla Autopilot and changes in route choice after using the FSD Beta system. Drivers, in general, are more willing to engage in leisure driving activities and fulfill unmet travel needs owing to the ease of travel provided by the automated system and to gain experience and explore the system's usefulness 3,5 . Furthermore, drivers with vision impairments can now drive in situations previously inaccessible to them, leading to increased driving exposure alongside normally sighted drivers.…”

“…Drivers, in general, are more willing to engage in Identifies stop signs and traffic lights and automatically slows the car to a stop on approach to a red light or stop sign, with the active supervision of the driver Autosteer on City Streets (Beta) leisure driving activities and fulfill unmet travel needs owing to the ease of travel provided by the automated system and to gain experience and explore the system's usefulness. 3,5 Furthermore, drivers with vision impairments can now drive in situations previously inaccessible to them, leading to increased driving exposure alongside normally sighted drivers. However, extended travel time in more diverse driving situations with the system may lead to new safety risks for drivers with vision impairments.…”

“…It is important to note that the FSD Beta system is currently in a beta testing phase and still in development, and many users have reported usage problems and potential safety concerns. 3,6 As automation technology continues to advance, it is possible that some of the issues and use challenges identified by this patient and other users may be remedied in future versions of the Tesla FSD system or in other semiautonomous vehicles. Our main goal in reporting this patient's entire experience across 2 years is to demonstrate the possibilities of using a car with level 2 automation to support driving safety and mobility opportunities for drivers with vision impairment.…”

“…In comparison to manual driving, normally sighted drivers reported a decrease in both mental and physical workload and stress when using Autopilot because of its ability to take over the lateral and longitudinal aspects (i.e., steering and acceleration/deceleration) of driving tasks on highways. However, when using the FSD Beta, they reported an increase in workload and stress, 3 as the current system requires constant supervision and preparation for intervention in case of unsafe system behavior (this stress may be mitigated in the future as the system achieves better performance and requires less driver supervision). However, this patient reported a similar level of mental and physical workload, but a decrease in stress when using both the Autopilot and the FSD Beta system.…”