The state authorities of California, USA, have passed a bill prohibiting carmakers from describing their driving assist systems with the terms like ‘autopilot’ and 'self-driving'. The authors argue that this nomenclature often leads to misunderstanding and, ultimately, accidents.
Starting from January 1, 2023, car dealers and manufacturers will be banned from describing ‘autonomous driving systems’ in promotional materials and passing these systems off as driving assists. Many drivers end up with the misconception that their car is capable of controlling the entire road situation at all times, which is all but unattainable at the current development of the technology.
It is no secret that the new law was developed with Tesla Inc. in sights. The company has been attracting criticism for years for its negligent use of the words ‘Autopilot’ and ‘Full Self-Driving’ to describe its proprietary cruise control system.