Tesla Update Adds Automatic Braking for Controlled Intersections, Results Vary

While we’ve often criticized Tesla Motors’ “Full Self Driving” (FSD) suite for being a $7,000 promise that failed to deliver, the automaker is making moves that might someday force us to eat our words.

Tesla is now releasing a new software update that includes the ability to automatically recognize and slow down for stop signs and traffic lights. CEO Elon Musk mentioned the development in Wednesday’s earnings call, referencing the system as “Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control” that builds on display options added months prior.

“Regarding Autopilot, we released a new software update for traffic lights and stop signs to early access users in March and to all U.S. customers with full self-driving package just last week. Our cars will now automatically stop at each stop sign or traffic light until the driver gets a confirmation to proceed,” Musk said. “I should say that the car is actually capable of much more than this, but we are only exposing functionality that we feel quite good about and where we feel it’s probably a safety improvement.”

While he did not expand on those other features, they’re likely related to the often criticized but highly ambitious FSD suite. However, the updates discussed are still being refined. Now that manufacturers can issue over-the-air updates to connected vehicles, they can make changes on the fly — adding or pulling features without the driver’s knowledge. While this opens up new doors for auto brands, we’ve seen Tesla make moves that leave us questioning whether or not cars are evolving in a manner that truly benefits consumers. The company has been caught removing content from vehicles on the secondhand market; for years, it’s been barked at for beta testing new features on existing customers.

It sounds like Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control also falls into the latter camp. However, it’s allowing the manufacturer to keep its promises, so you can’t knock it entirely. Adding content to a vehicle years after it was purchased is still kind of magical… at least conceptually.

As things stand, software update 2020.12.6 sees the car warn you of an impending intersection before it attempts to stop for it. This can be overridden by slapping the gear selector downward or blipping the throttle. Having no model with which to test this at present, we were forced to wait for feedback from Tesla owners living with the new system. Thus far, reactions are mixed.

While Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control (which has to be enabled for your driving profile) seems adept at identifying where intersections are located, it apparently will try and slow itself even when you’re facing a green light. It seems to have issues when crossing divided highways or railroads, as well — occasionally ignoring the first intersection you encounter if the second is near enough. Sensors will also occasionally pick up false readings for parallel crossroads where lights are angled partially in your direction, causing a surprise stop.

This makes the system seem like a handful, especially since it requires you take additional action not to stop at every intersection. On busy-enough roads, this would require a driver to constantly work against the system while attempting to drive normally. It could prove handy on long boulevards, though this author doubts he’d ever use it for any reason beyond briefly satisfying his own curiosity.

[Image: Tesla]