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by deanak 1885 days ago
In every safety system, there is a point where human intervention can override automated activity. In almost every car these systems have standard tactile controls so you can override through muscle memory in an emergency without taking your eyes off the road. (If you haven't noticed, even the icons used on stalks and buttons are standardized across the industry as a matter of safety). In a Tesla, overriding the auto sense wiper feature is available through an interaction with the touch screen at the precise moment when a driver should not be distracted (ie, when they are having trouble seeing through the windshield). As far as I know, they are the only auto manufacturer that doesn't stick with standard stalks for things that affect visibility (wipers/headlights/turn signals, etc).

This is why I don't think a Tesla is a feature complete car -- it simply lacks the common set of safety features found in every other modern vehicle.
2 comments
natch 1885 days ago
> available through an interaction with the touch screen

Not exactly. It’s on the stalk as a physical button.

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deanak 1885 days ago
https://electrek.co/2020/08/04/tesla-wiper-controls-ruled-il...

> On Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, Tesla didn’t install normal windshield wiper settings through a steering wheel stalk.

> Instead, the automaker is detecting the rain through its Autopilot cameras and automatically adjusting the speed based on the strength of the rainfall.

> If the driver wants to adjust the speed, they need to do it through the center touchscreen.

> The driver in Germany was adjusting those settings when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed.

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natch 1885 days ago
The wiper can actually be activated via the stalk on Model 3 and Model Y. Not every fine grained setting, but the actions you need.

> The driver in Germany was adjusting those settings when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed.

Yes, user error. He should have used the physical button or voice controls instead. I mean, when driving, the first rule is pay attention to the road.

Anyone can snipe and nitpick, but in actual use with responsible drivers the system works great. With irresponsible drivers, all bets are off, as with any car.

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natch 1885 days ago
They are adding features all the time through software updates. I hope it is never feature complete, because I enjoy getting these updates!
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