Tesla's FSD Update Prompts Drowsy Drivers to Use Autonomous Feature
Tesla's latest Full Self-Driving software update includes messaging that prompts drowsy drivers to activate the autonomous feature to maintain focus. Safety researchers warn the contradictory messaging could encourage unsafe reliance on the system during moments when drivers should maintain heightened attention, potentially increasing crash risk.
What happened
Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) feature received an update that included in-car messaging urging drivers to activate FSD when drowsy or drifting between lanes. The messages read 'Lane drift detected. Let FSD assist so you can stay focused' and 'Drowsiness detected. Stay focused with FSD.'
The messaging was included in a recent software update and spotted by a hacker who tracks Tesla development. Online, drivers have subsequently reported seeing similar messages on their in-car screens.
Reported impact
Researchers and safety experts have raised concerns that the messaging conflicts with Tesla's own manual instructions, which state that drivers must pay attention to the road and be ready to take over at all times. Experts warn the prompts could confuse drivers and encourage unsafe use of the feature during moments when safety-focused systems should demand heightened driver focus.
Alexandra Mueller, a senior research scientist at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, stated that 'Tesla is basically giving a series of conflicting instructions' and that 'this messaging puts the drivers in a very difficult situation.'
Index analysis
Research on human interaction with computer systems shows that people are poor passive supervisors of systems that are mostly reliable but imperfect. In aviation, this phenomenon is called the 'out-of-the-loop performance problem,' where pilots relying on automated systems can fail to monitor for malfunctions due to complacency, a condition known as vigilance decrement.
Mueller noted that when drivers are suspected of becoming drowsy, removing even more of their physical engagement 'seems extremely counterproductive' for maintaining their ability to understand and regain control of a malfunctioning system.
Governance controls
Tesla's driver assistance manual specifies that 'Full Self-Driving (Supervised) requires you to pay attention to the road and be ready to take over at all times.' The manual warns that failure to follow these instructions could cause damage, serious injury or death.
Since 2021, Tesla has used in-car monitoring cameras to verify drivers are paying attention while using FSD and implemented a 'strike system' that can block drivers from using the feature if they fail to respond to alerts.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
This record was researched and written by the Index from original reporting. Its sources are still being verified by an editor, and they are listed here once that check is complete. Until then the record carries no reviewer.