NTSB Recommendations Poll

In an ideal world, a poll could have three responses: (1) agree; (2) no opinion, or; (3) disagree. In this case, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) gets by default, agree or no opinion. My only interest is disagreement with any of the nine recommendations: https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20200225.aspx

To address these safety issues the NTSB made nine safety recommendations that seek:

1. Expansion of NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program testing of forward collision avoidance system performance.
2. Evaluation of Tesla “Autopilot”- equipped vehicles to determine if the system’s operating limitations, foreseeability of misuse, and ability to operate vehicles outside the intended operational design domain pose an unreasonable risk to safety.
3. Collaborative development of standards for driver monitoring systems to minimize driver disengagement, prevent automation complacency and account for foreseeable misuse of the automation.
4. Review and revision of distracted driving initiatives to increase employers’ awareness of the need for strong cell phone policies prohibiting portable electronic device use while driving.
5. Modification of enforcement strategies for employers who fail to address the hazards of distracted driving.
6. Development of a distracted driving lock-out mechanism or application for portable electronic devices that will automatically disable any driver-distracting functions when a vehicle is in motion.
7. Development of policy that bans nonemergency use of portable electronic devices while driving by all employees and contractors driving company vehicles, operating company issued portable electronic devices or when using a portable electronic device to engage in work-related communications.

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It would be rude to point out the NHTSA needs to learn how to count.

Bob Wilson

 

I disagree that Tesla Autopilot should be singled out. This gives the other manufacturers a 'free pass'. For example, the UBER self-driving car that killed a pedestrian walking her bike across the street. The NHTSA gives them a 'free pass' although they have 2-3 orders of magnitude fewer, self-driving cars.

Bob Wilson