There Auto Be A Law

Tesla settles an Autopilot case before the trial starts which makes sense since Elon said they never fight true claims. Another Telsa case involving a 2 year that managed to start the car and crash into his mom has begun and Elon says that his robotaxi's will be announced real soon. Our expert opinion is that Tesla won't produce a robo-taxi within the next 5 years. Don't get high and drive because it's dangerous and the sobriety checks are so poor that you might wind up in jail for a really long time even if you're sober. Fred covers reaction time and we cover some recalls. Enjoy.This weeks links:https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/tesla-fatal-autopilot-crash-trial-33936b42https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/in-2018-crash-tesla-s-autopilot-just-followed-the-lane-lines/ar-BB1ld85Ohttps://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/tesla-trial-company-sued-after-toddler-crashes-model-x-into-mom/https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/teslas-bet-robotaxis-is-long-way-paying-off-2024-04-05/https://www.repairerdrivennews.com/2024/04/09/kentucky-governor-vetoes-allowing-avs-on-state-roads/https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/04/38134128/detection-of-cannabis-in-bodily-fluids-not-correlated-with-driving-impairment-new-review-showshttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28124573/https://phys.org/news/2017-01-guidelines-takeover-automated-vehicles.htmlhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V246-1564.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V240-9036.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V227-7296.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V214-7532.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V228-1895.PDF

This week Dr. Emily Thomas from Consumer Reports joins us to discuss backseat safety. Did you know that there is technology to remind you not to leave your kids in the car? And it's not standardized or required, Dr. Thomas walks us through the tech, the safety of car seats and how Consumer Reports conducts testing for these items. It's a good one.This weeks links:https://www.noheatstroke.org/https://www.consumerreports.org/babies-kids/car-seats/https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/2022-traffic-deaths-2023-early-estimateshttps://www.autosafety.org/support-us/

Oh the joys of dash cams... remember just because you're the one filming doesn't mean that you're not int he wrong. Should you get one? Listen and find out. GM stops selling your data, Elon forces everyone to experience FSD, the solar eclipse might lead to more crashes, and New Jersey is trying to exempt all of their drivers from automated traffic enforcement.This weeks links:https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/the-pros-and-cons-of-having-a-dashcam-if-you-get-into-a-car-accident/ar-BB1jM3o3https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/planning-a-road-trip-for-the-total-solar-eclipse-heres-why-you-should-drive-extra-carefully/ar-BB1kA1iihttps://electrek.co/2024/03/25/elon-musk-mandates-tesla-install-demo-full-self-driving-beta-every-new-delivery/https://www.repairerdrivennews.com/2024/03/25/report-independent-shops-face-repair-information-limitations-but-do-have-access/https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-markey-and-warren-introduce-legislation-to-protect-car-buyers_bolster-safety-of-used-carshttps://arstechnica.com/cars/2024/03/gm-stops-sharing-driver-data-with-brokers-amid-backlash/https://www.senatenj.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=278https://www.carscoops.com/2024/03/the-iihs-explains-why-it-doesnt-crash-test-vehicles-at-higher-speeds/https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/chrysler-to-recall-about-286-000-us-vehicles-over-airbag-inflator-issue-nhtsa-says/ar-BB1ksahXhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V207-4244.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2024/INOA-PE24008-10868.pdf

Apparently, if one were so inclined you could replace or reprogram your digital odometer fairly easily because security is not something that is built into car software. How was that for a sentence? 3 adverbs at once. Ouch. Know what else hurts? Drowsy driving. It's under-reported and dangerous. Autonomous driving modes also seem to be dangerous as we see in our Blue Cruise discussion. Maybe we should all stay awake and engaged instead of napping and hoping the car will drive itself to the Piggly Wiggly. Plus we dig into the CAN Bus (that's the lack of security around the software in your car.)This weeks links:https://apnews.com/article/ntsb-ford-blue-cruise-crash-investigation-texas-18db4b71d698c5e4575370df6b09c49dhttps://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/other/ford-s-bluecruise-hands-free-system-is-the-subject-of-ntsb-probe/ar-BB1k6zdhhttps://newsroom.aaa.com/2024/03/aaa-fear-of-self-driving-cars-persists-as-industry-faces-an-uncertain-future/https://aaafoundation.org/drowsy-driving-in-fatal-crashes-united-states-2017-2021/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/kansas-car-dealer-indicted-for-rolling-back-odometers-as-cases-surge-nationwide/ar-BB1k86grhttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/18/new-orleans-bus-explosion-children-savedhttps://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/mar/18/as-washington-lawmakers-pass-on-lowering-limits-fo/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24E023-5231.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V191-7561.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V196-5030.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V201-8194.PDF

Know the difference between laminated glass and tempered glass? Did you know that a laminated glass breaking tool for sale online will not actually break laminated glass? I answered no to both of these questions so it's a good thing I listened to this episode. Plus some cars are tracking your ever move and then selling the data to your insurance company... without your knowledge or consent. IIHS adds a new test for partial automated driving features and everyone - almost everyone - fails, Tesla is on trial and blames its customers. And Fred breaks down 0 to 60 in one second nonsense claims.This weeks links:https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/11/technology/carmakers-driver-tracking-insurance.htmlhttps://www.iihs.org/news/detail/first-partial-driving-automation-safeguard-ratings-show-industry-has-work-to-dohttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/next-autopilot-trial-to-test-teslas-blame-the-driver-defense/ar-BB1jHQ1nhttps://www.wsj.com/real-estate/angela-chao-death-texas-tesla-safety-c435daa0https://electrek.co/2024/03/08/rimac-bugatti-ceo-problems-with-tesla-roadsters-under-1-sec-0-to-60-mph/https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/11/business/porsche-reveals-its-most-powerful-car-ever?cid=ios_apphttps://www.wsj.com/articles/dont-believe-the-tesla-headlines-safety-recall-software-update-c2e95f3ahttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V175-2244.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V176-8903.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V169-4902.PDF

Touch screen or physical buttons that go click? This is the new Pepsi challenge. Where are you? Odds are if you are here than you like the buttons. So do we. This week we start off with a story about how the Europeans are going to ding manufacturers for hiding features behind a touch screen. Telsa decided to go even further and remove turn signal stalks, the Biden administration talks about cyber security for your car, Waymo takes to LA and a thief tries to take a Waymo, it's "recall week" at NHTSA, Fred explains flying cars and we cover some recalls.This weeks links:https://arstechnica.com/cars/2024/03/carmakers-must-bring-back-buttons-to-get-good-safety-scores-in-europe/https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevetengler/2024/03/05/a-bug-to-the-light-the-attraction-to-touchscreens-in-cars/https://electrek.co/2024/03/04/tesla-controversial-turn-signals-ding-near-perfect-safety-rating/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/waymo-is-cleared-to-launch-robotaxi-service-in-los-angeles-sparking-new-protests/https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/ford-54-of-technicians-must-complete-training-by-april-1-or-claims-will-be-rejected/https://www.nhtsa.gov/recallshttps://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/04/flying-car-firm-alef-hits-2850-preorders-worth-over-850-million.htmlhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V155-4707.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V152-2601.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V148-8879.PDFhttps://jalopnik.com/it-s-kinda-getting-communist-some-folks-really-didn-1851257445

This week Anthony deals with rental cars, the Washington Post investigates Tesla, Fred explains hybrids, Michael provides more detail about Ford airbag non fixes and more.This weeks links:https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2024/02/28/greenest-cars-plug-in-hybrid/https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/iihs-challenges-automakers-with-tougher-top-safety-pick-award-criteriahttps://arstechnica.com/cars/2024/02/new-data-shows-which-states-were-more-deadly-for-pedestrians-in-2023/https://newsroom.aaa.com/2024/02/hit-the-brakes/https://www.forbes.com/sites/kimelsesser/2024/02/20/will-female-crash-dummies-improve-road-safety-for-women-the-answer-is-complicated/?sh=13758efe6a20https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/key-takeaways-fords-unfixed-air-bags-that-consumers-believe-were-fixed/ar-BB1iV4Nfhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/interactive/2024/tesla-full-self-driving-fatal-crash/https://futurism.com/tesla-driver-not-sure-full-self-driving?trk=feed-detail_main-feed-card_feed-article-contenthttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24E013-2218.PDFhttps://www.carscoops.com/2024/02/lucid-under-investigation-for-potentially-dodging-recall-responsibilities/

Our guests stuck around for another episode. In this one Phil explains why "driving modes" make much more sense than SAE Levels and I have to agree. Levels are meaningless since every OEM seems to make them mean whatever they want. William explains more about liability and how the laws are not keeping up because there has not been a pressing issue from the public. Actually, the way he says is much better but you're going to have to listen to find out.

This is the first of a two-part episode with Philip Koopman, Associate Professor at Carnegie Mellon University and William H. Widen, Professor at University of Miami School of Law.The the two have been providing testimony to state legislatures about the safety of autonomous vehicles and authoring a bunch of articles. In this episode they walk us through the liability aspects of self driving cars and explain who the driver is.Related Linkshttps://assets.ctfassets.net/e6t5diu0txbw/54ngcIlGK4EZnUapYvAjyf/7a5b30a670350cc1d85c9d07ca282b0c/Comparison_of_Waymo_Rider_Only_Crash_Data_to_Human_Benchmarks_at_7_1_Million_Miles_arxiv.pdfhttps://www.jurist.org/commentary/2023/08/widen-koopman-automated-vehicles-criminal-law/https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/tesla-to-recall-more-than-two-million-vehicles-for-software-fix-a5fb3626https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V051-2023.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V064-8870.PDFhttps://safeautonomy.blogspot.com/2023/05/a-liability-approach-for-automated.html

In this episode guests Dr. Jeff Wishart and Phil Koopman explain the history of autonomous vehicles, why safety is really really hard, that human drivers are not bad and that it is pure speculation if a self driving car will ever be safer than a human.