Tesla Autopilot Would Avoid 90% of Car Accidents

Tesla has made statements suggesting that their Autopilot system, an advanced driver-assistance feature, has the potential to improve overall vehicle safety and reduce the risk of accidents. However, it is important to approach such claims with caution and consider several factors:

Limitations of Autopilot: Tesla's Autopilot is designed to assist drivers with certain driving tasks but is not a fully autonomous system. It still requires driver attention and supervision. The system has limitations and may not be able to handle all driving scenarios or unexpected events.

Variability in Accident Scenarios: Car accidents can occur due to various factors, including the actions of other drivers, pedestrians, adverse weather conditions, and mechanical failures. While Autopilot may help prevent certain types of accidents, it may not be effective in all possible scenarios.

Reliability and Validation: The claim that Autopilot could avoid 90% of car accidents would need to be supported by comprehensive and independent studies analyzing real-world data. It is important to examine the methodology and evidence behind such claims.

Reporting Bias: It is worth considering the possibility of reporting bias, as accidents involving Tesla vehicles equipped with Autopilot might receive more media attention, leading to a potential overemphasis on those incidents.

Assessing the safety impact of any advanced driver-assistance system like Tesla's Autopilot requires extensive research, analysis of real-world data, and independent evaluation. It is always crucial for drivers to remain vigilant, follow traffic laws, and be prepared to take control of the vehicle at all times, even when using driver-assistance systems.

To stay informed about the latest developments and safety information regarding Tesla's Autopilot system, it is recommended to refer to official statements from Tesla, follow updates from regulatory authorities, and consult reliable sources of automotive news and analysis.

Pedestrian Fatalities National Map

Dangerous by Design Pedestrian Fatalities Map

In recent years, pedestrian fatalities have been a significant concern in traffic safety. In 2019, for example, there were 6,205 pedestrian fatalities reported in the United States. This represented a 46% increase from the number of pedestrian fatalities reported in 2010. It's worth noting that the number of pedestrian fatalities can fluctuate year to year due to various factors, including changes in population, road conditions, traffic patterns, and safety initiatives.

The number of pedestrian fatalities reported each year in the United States has varied. However, it is important to note that these figures are subject to change and should be verified with the latest data from reliable sources such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or other relevant authorities.

Some common factors that have been identified as contributing to pedestrian fatalities include:

Vehicle Speed: Higher vehicle speeds increase the likelihood and severity of pedestrian fatalities. Collisions at higher speeds leave pedestrians with less time to react and reduce the chances of avoiding or surviving an impact.

Impaired Driving: Alcohol or drug impairment significantly impairs a driver's ability to react and make sound judgments, increasing the risk of pedestrian accidents and fatalities.

Distractions: Distracted driving, such as texting, talking on the phone, or interacting with in-vehicle technology, diverts a driver's attention from the road and pedestrians, increasing the risk of accidents.

Intersection-related incidents: Pedestrians are particularly vulnerable at intersections, where vehicle-pedestrian conflicts are more likely to occur. Factors like red-light running, failure to yield right-of-way, or improper turning contribute to pedestrian fatalities.

Poor Visibility: Low-light conditions, lack of street lighting, or pedestrians wearing dark clothing can decrease visibility for both drivers and pedestrians, increasing the risk of accidents.

Age: Children and older adults are considered more vulnerable to pedestrian accidents due to factors such as limited mobility, unpredictable behavior, or reduced ability to assess traffic situations.

Waze Dangerous Intersection Warning

Waze Dangerous Intersection Warning

Waze does Waze not have a specific "dangerous intersection warning" feature?  However, Waze does provide various safety alerts and notifications to drivers based on user-generated reports and real-time data. These alerts can include hazards, accidents, road closures, police presence, and other relevant information.

Waze relies on its community of users to report incidents and hazards they encounter on the road. If multiple users report a specific intersection as dangerous or hazardous, it is possible that Waze will take that into account and provide alerts or notifications to other drivers approaching that intersection.

It's important to note that the accuracy and timeliness of Waze alerts depend on the information reported by its users. While Waze can be a valuable tool for navigating and receiving real-time information about road conditions, it's always a good idea to exercise caution and rely on your judgment when encountering any intersection or potentially hazardous situation on the road. 

Are The Roads In Costa Rica Really Dangerous?

My first time in Costa Rica I was pleasantly surprised by how nice and clean the roads were.  We landed in Liberia at night and headed out to Papagayo Peninsula.  Yes, the road was dark but the pavement did not have any holes and it was very smooth.  You have probably heard a lot of hype and rumors of how bad the roads are here.  Please share your experiences here with road conditions and dangerous intersections around the area.  Click on the dangerous roads in Costa Rica map and share locations that you might feel are dangerous.  So far we haven't found any and think the roads are in better condition than most highways in the United States. 

No One Driving Tesla in Fatal Crash - Map of Location in Texas

SPRING, Texas (KTRK) -- Two people died in a fiery crash involving a 2019 Tesla Model S and its autopilot functionality while taking it for a test drive on Saturday night, according to authorities.

Constable Mark Herman said one person was found in the front passenger seat and another in the back seat. Both died in the fire.

The flames reportedly took hours to extinguish, and Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman said the investigation has led them to believe that there was no one driving the car when the crash occurred.

The crash happened just after 9 p.m. on Hammock Dunes Place in the Carlton Woods Creekside subdivision. The victims were said to have been two men who were 59 and 69 years old, however police have not released their names yet.

Firefighters and medics were called to the scene after reports of an explosion in the woods after the Tesla ran off the road, authorities said.

The Tesla was traveling from a cul-de-sac on Hammock Dunes Place and did not negotiate a curve. The vehicle crashed into a tree before bursting into flames.  

Constable Herman said the 2019 Tesla Model S was traveling on a roadway and at some point, the vehicle, which deputies said was traveling at a high rate of speed, came to a slight curve. Deputies say the car went off the roadway, crashed into a tree and burst into flames.

Crews found two bodies inside the vehicle, a man in the front passenger seat and another man in the back passenger seat.

The batteries on board the Tesla continued to ignite despite efforts to douse the flames, authorities said. It reportedly took around four hours and more than 30,000 gallons of water before firefighters decided to let the fire burn itself out.

KPRC 2 reporter Deven Clarke spoke to one man’s brother-in-law who said he was taking the car out for a spin with his best friend, so there were just two in the vehicle. The owner, he said, backed out of the driveway, and then may have hopped in the back seat only to crash a few hundred yards down the road. He said the owner was found in the back seat upright.

Read local news reports. 

Read the comments on Reddit for possible reasons.

No One Driving Tesla in Fatal Crash - Map of Location in Texas from r/SelfDrivingCars

Top 10 Causes of Death Among People Ages 15-29 Years

Over 1.2 million people die each year on the world’s roads, with millions more sustaining serious injuries and living with long-term adverse health consequences. Globally, road traffic crashes are a leading cause of death among young people and the main cause of death among those aged 15–29 years.

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), road traffic accidents are the leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 29 years.

There are several reasons why road traffic accidents pose a significant risk to young people. Some factors include:

Inexperience: Young drivers often have less experience behind the wheel, which can lead to poor judgment, lack of anticipation of hazards, and inadequate decision-making skills while driving.

Risky behavior: Young people are more likely to engage in risky behaviors while driving, such as speeding, distracted driving (e.g., texting or talking on the phone), drunk driving, and not wearing seat belts. These behaviors increase the chances of accidents and fatalities.

Peer pressure: Peer influence can play a role in encouraging risky behavior on the road. Young drivers may feel compelled to take risks or show off in front of their friends, increasing the likelihood of accidents.

Lack of seat belt use: Many young people neglect to wear seat belts while driving or riding as passengers. Seat belts significantly reduce the risk of fatal injuries in the event of a crash, and the absence of seat belt usage can be particularly dangerous for young people.

Addressing the issue of road traffic accidents among young people requires a multi-faceted approach. This includes:

Education and awareness: Promoting road safety education programs targeted at young people to increase their awareness of the risks and consequences of unsafe driving behaviors.

Enforcing traffic laws: Implementing strict traffic laws and enforcing them effectively to deter risky behavior on the road. This includes measures such as speed limits, seat belt laws, and penalties for drunk driving.

Graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs: Graduated licensing systems that gradually introduce young drivers to more complex driving situations and restrictions on high-risk activities can help reduce accidents among novice drivers.

Technology and infrastructure improvements: Implementing advanced safety features in vehicles, such as electronic stability control, collision avoidance systems, and improved road infrastructure, can help prevent accidents and minimize the severity of injuries.

Efforts to address road traffic accidents among young people should involve collaboration between governments, law enforcement agencies, educational institutions, parents, and the community at large to create a safer driving environment and instill responsible behavior on the road.

Read more

INRIX expands signal analytics to measure intersection performance

INRIX, Inc., a leader in connected car services and transportation analytics, has today announced a software as a service (SaaS) application to manage traffic signal and corridor performance easier, faster and cheaper.

INRIX IQ Signal Analytics delivers unprecedented intersection and corridor analytics in an easy to use yet powerful cloud-based platform designed for all levels of traffic professionals – management, engineering, operations and maintenance.

brought to you by Conduent Transportation

Signal Analytics is the industry’s first intersection analytics platform based exclusively on anonymous connected vehicle data. With a penetration rate nearing seven percent in many markets, Signal Analytics calculates for industry-defined metrics including control delay, split failures, turn ratio and volume at a vastly lower cost than instrumenting an intersection. Systemwide summary metrics are reported daily and presented in an intuitive, web-based application available through INRIX IQ, a SaaS application suite for uncovering mobility insights.

“Signal Analytics is a robust set of visualizations and analytics that transforms complex data into easily understood, managed and optimized dashboards and reports that people can act on,” said Avery Ash, head of product management and strategy for INRIX IQ. “We put an incredible focus on making Signal Analytics accurate, timely and easy to use.”

Leveraging more than 25 million trips and 300 million miles daily, at a 5-second ping frequency, Signal Analytics delivers every metric necessary for operators to fully understand performance on more than 210,000 signalized intersections across the U.S. Customizable daily reports and dashboards highlight key metrics, problems and trends for intersections and corridors across a road network. In-depth searches and advanced functionality, such as user-defined date(s) for individual vehicle movement, leverage the Center for Advanced Transportation Technology (CATT) Laboratory at the University of Maryland’s powerful Regional Integrated Transportation Information System (RITIS) platform.

“Every transportation agency in America now has the ability to monitor and manage the performance of their entire traffic signals system without hardware. Agencies can prioritize system enhancements, saving time and dollars while providing near-ground-truth accuracy for all performance measures,” said Scott Sedlik, senior vice president and general manager of public sector at INRIX.

To be the first to access INRIX IQ Signal Analytics, sign up here.

Tiger Woods Crash Location Map Palos Verdes, California

Tiger Woods was transported to the hospital with injuries following a vehicle crash with "major damage," LA County Sheriff's Dept.  Tiger Woods roll-over collision location in Palos Verdes, CA.   The intersection of roll-over crash at Blackhorse and Hawthorne Blvd in Rolling Hills Estates, California 90274. 

Tiger Woods was hospitalized Tuesday, Feb. 23, with multiple leg injuries after he was involved in a single-vehicle rollover crash on the border of Rolling Hills Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes, authorities and his agent said. Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies responded to the area of Hawthorne Boulevard and Blackhorse Road, near Peninsula High School, just before 7:15 a.m., according to a statement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The pro golfer was traveling northbound on Hawthorne Boulevard, downhill, when the crash occurred. It was unclear what caused the crash that left Woods’ vehicle with major damage, the department said.

There’s more ... officials also noted the area where Tiger crashed is a “trouble spot” for traffic collisions — with Deputy Gonzalez noting there have been fatalities in that spot in the past

Conflicting eyewitness reports and the Sheriff's statement are making this a bit hard to understand what happened.  Stay tuned for more details. 

BREAKING: Tiger Woods transported to hospital with injuries following vehicle crash with "major damage," LA County Sheriff's Dept. says. pic.twitter.com/hxcGYAig8D

— MSNBC (@MSNBC) February 23, 2021

Here is an eyewitness account saying the vehicles involved were traveling up the hill.

My daughter saw the aftermath and said it looked really bad. Two cars involved. And going up the hill.

— cc (@ccinpve) February 23, 2021

It appeared the car was traveling at a high rate of speed based on this video. 

A look at the path that it looks like Tiger Woods car took. It appears it went a long way before coming to a rest pic.twitter.com/ZwWQqoCKvM

— Cody Chaffins (@Cody_Fox5) February 23, 2021

Here is the car involved in the accident from the Genesis Invitational golf tournament over the weekend at Riviera Golf Course.

Assessing the Safety of Autopilot Vehicle Technology

Representing the midway point between traditional human-operated vehicles and self-driving cars of the future, autopilot capabilities like those featured in Tesla vehicles are marketed as a safer and more convenient way to drive. Is that the truth, or a self-serving sales pitch? 

To answer that question, let’s start by drawing comparisons to autopilot systems commonly found in modern-day aircraft. Autopilot has been a standard piece of aviation technology for decades. That’s because these systems make air travel safer and more convenient for pilots and passengers. 

Despite these safety advantages, autopilot is never used during take-off or landing. The same basic principle applies to similar technology featured in modern-day automobiles. For example, Tesla Autopilot isn’t meant to navigate the tight spaces and loosely regulated traffic of Tesla charging stations in downtown Los Angeles. However, it can be safely engaged when the vehicle is on the open and unobstructed interstate. 

The takeaway from this comparison is that, despite their limitations, autopilot systems provide added safety and convenience. Users must be able to harness this technology responsibly and resist the urge to abuse it or take it for granted. 

But what about news reports of fatal crashes and collisions involving vehicles with their autonomous driving features engaged? Doesn’t that prove they aren’t as safe as the automakers claim they are? No, it doesn’t. In fact, it highlights how safe these systems truly are.

 Consider the last time you read a news story about a vehicle fatality involving standard human-operated cars. It only makes the news when the circumstances are especially tragic or otherwise remarkable, yet fatal car accidents happen in our cities and towns every single day. It’s too common to be considered newsworthy. 

On the flipside, fatal car crashes involving advanced autopilot features are newsworthy because the technology generates questions and controversy. Just because we hear about a deadly incident involving autopilot doesn’t mean it’s a common occurrence. It’s certainly not as common as “traditional” motor vehicle accidents. 

The limitations and potential dangers of autopilot and autonomous driving feature ultimately highlight how, as mentioned earlier, the technology is a placeholder in the grand scheme of things. Ten years from now, driverless cars will reign supreme. When that happens, the safety of autopilot will get eclipsed by the improved safety brought about through completely autonomous vehicles. 

Think of autonomous driving capabilities as the iPod of advanced vehicle technology. Remember those things? They changed our lives for about five years, then the iPhone came along and with it the age of the smartphone. Nobody has an iPod anymore, even though we all did once.

The same fate - more or less - awaits the autopilot technology featured in Tesla vehicles and those made by several other automakers. Today it represents the pinnacle of consumer-accessible automobiles, but those days are numbered. 

Are you thinking about buying a vehicle with autonomous driving technology built-in? If so, it’s imperative to remember the limitations of these systems. They offer a chance for motorists to traverse with reduced risk and enhanced convenience, but only when used correctly and responsibly.