[dragonwriter]

> How can autopilot know if it is safe to steer into the shoulder?

I would suggest that if it can't, its not ready for general use on consumer road vehicles.

[kirkbauer]

Isn't that one of the reasons there is still a driver? Cruise control will drive you right off of the road until you crash with no awareness of the shoulder or other traffic or anything. But it is all over the place.