Episodes

  • Technology readiness levels
    May 16 2024

    Waymo keeps running into things and now NHTSA is investigating. Fred proposes a graduated licensing process for autonomous vehicles. 60 minutes Australia compiles a list of Elon Musk stating how self driving is ready next year but that next year never comes... maybe he's just a salesman? Tesla's automation software has been involved in 467 crashes, 13 of them fatal... and that is just in a 15 month period. Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.

    This weeks links:

    • https://www.autosafety.org/av-bill-of-rights/
    • https://www.autosafety.org/support-us/
    • https://ieeetv.ieee.org/channels/ssit/self-driving-cars-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly
    • https://apnews.com/article/selfdriving-vehicles-automated-government-investigations-0b43be102688f66590e6b9e76c0f5939
    • https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2024/INOA-PE24016-12382.pdf
    • https://www.getcruise.com/news/blog/2024/cruise-resumes-supervised-autonomous-driving-with-safety-drivers/
    • https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/tesla-autopilot-probe-us-prosecutors-focus-securities-wire-fraud-2024-05-08/
    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcHtagqxPkI
    • https://www.nicb.org/news/news-releases/new-report-imports-top-list-americas-most-stolen-vehicles
    • https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V321-1338.PDF
    • https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V318-2050.PDF
    • https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:d3f5e019-b65e-11ec-b6f4-01aa75ed71a1.0001.01/DOC_1&format=DOC
    • https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:d3f5e019-b65e-11ec-b6f4-01aa75ed71a1.0001.01/DOC_2&format=DOC
    • https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-20-48g
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 3 mins
  • There's no place like safety and the pucker factor
    May 9 2024

    That scrappy Tesla is still in the news for safety issues. NHTSA has requested more data about their Autopilot recall from December. With over 20 crashes since then there are some questions that need to be answered. And the DOJ and SEC are investigating them about their self driving claims. Drunk driving has been increasing but enforcement has declined. We discuss solutions that are available today but that manufacturers and Congress don't want to act on. Aurora is ready to put there self driving semi's on the road and this inspires Fred to come up with a new business idea. Michael suggests that the EPA regulate the fire retardants in cars so that we don't get exposed to horrible chemicals. Plus Recall Roundup.

    This Weeks Links

    • https://www.autosafety.org/support-us/
    • https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2024-05-08/exclusive-in-tesla-autopilot-probe-us-prosecutors-focus-on-securities-wire-fraud
    • https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2024/05/04/tesla-autopilot-recall-crashes-deaths-nhtsa/
    • https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/05/07/tesla-autopilot-investigation-why-remedy-didnt-work/abb4dba6-0c61-11ef-ae0a-a6870885518d_story.html
    • https://apnews.com/article/trucks-selfdriving-highways-automation-driver-083409631158f54d806d75309c4764e2
    • https://apnews.com/article/selfdriving-semi-aurora-safety-autonomous-80a48dd862c33c62ad4284f0cf7591b5
    • https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/drunken-driving-deaths-are-up-why-are-dui-arrests-down/ar-AA1o2mQA
    • https://www.fastcompany.com/91120201/carcinogen-cars-interior-flame-retardant-chemicals
    • https://ieeetv.ieee.org/channels/ssit/self-driving-cars-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly
    • https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V298-1454.PDF
    • https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V304-6178.PDF
    • https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V308-1849.PDF
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Automatic Emergency Braking and Tesla continues to disappoint
    May 2 2024

    NHTSA has finally released a rule for Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB). We've been asking for one since 2015 so... 3 cheers for NHTSA? But the rules don't go into effect until 2029. Ugh. On the plus side IIHS updated their AEB tests and car makers have a lot of work to do. We dive deep into AEB. And will 2024 be the year of the Tesla lawsuits? Maybe they shouldn't sell things with aspirational names like Autopilot when they keep crashing and killing people? Ford Blue Cruise is under investigation, Waymo says the bad driving of it's robotaxi was on purpose and we cover the latest recalls.

    This weeks links:

    • https://www.autosafety.org/support-us/
    • https://www.autosafety.org/av-bill-of-rights/
    • https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/few-small-suvs-excel-in-new-iihs-front-crash-prevention-test
    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywyCTIsNYis&t=3s
    • https://apnews.com/article/ford-blue-cruise-crash-investigation-deaths-4429651e132e3702a6a2a6a127aebbc2
    • https://jalopnik.com/new-california-law-hopes-to-stop-robotaxis-from-dodging-1851447318
    • https://futurism.com/self-driving-waymo-wrong-side-street
    • https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/federal-agency-investigates-effectiveness-of-recall-of-teslas-autopilot-system
    • https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/tesla-s-autopilot-and-full-self-driving-linked-to-hundreds-of-crashes-dozens-of-deaths/ar-AA1nIyP0
    • https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/04/28/tesla-trial-autopilot-lawsuit/
    • https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V282-3386.PDF
    • https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V288-7983.PDF
    • https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2024/INOA-PE24011-11699.pdf
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Trust, but regulate
    Apr 25 2024

    The autonomous vehicle industry has their own PR team that is trying to compete with our Consumer Autonomous Vehicle Bill of Rights. It's a bunch of hogwash that they regurgitate every few years. A few Senators that can see through this have written a nice letter to NHTSA telling them to regulate AV's, British Columbia bans AV's and another Tesla driver makes the fatal mistake that his car is an AV and not lipstick on a pig. Fred gets into the dangers of AI through the story of mushrooms. Plus recall roundup that starts with a... Tesla.

    This weeks links:

    • https://www.autosafety.org/support-us/
    • https://theavindustry.org/trust-principles
    • https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-markey-blumenthal-lead-call-for-stronger-action-from-federal-regulator-on-autonomous-vehicle-safety-after-high-profile-crashes
    • https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/18/24133448/autonomous-vehicles-adas-blumenthal-markey-nhtsa
    • https://jalopnik.com/tesla-driver-who-trusted-autopilot-charged-with-killing-1851428652
    • https://jalopnik.com/tesla-cybertruck-no-match-for-car-wash-1851417011
    • https://www.thedrive.com/news/self-driving-cars-banned-in-british-columbia
    • https://www.extremetech.com/cars/mercedes-becomes-first-automaker-to-sell-level-3-self-driving-direct-to
    • https://www.citizen.org/article/mushroom-risk-ai-app-misinformation/
    • https://www.ibm.com/topics/artificial-intelligence
    • https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V276-7026.PDF
    • https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V274-3413.PDF
    • https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V275-7192.PDF
    • https://usa.streetsblog.org/2024/04/22/five-car-culture-euphemisms-we-need-to-stop-using
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 1 min
  • Road diets and bad Tesla
    Apr 18 2024

    Could your road go on a diet? Maybe it should as it could make it safer. Did you spend too much money on a stainless tank and are now suffering from unintended acceleration? Contact Tesla and ask if you've been Cyber Trucked. Turbo roundabouts, bad Tesla software updates, daylight savings time and car crashes an update on the Consumer Autonomous Vehicle Bill of Rights and lots of recalls.

    This weeks links:

    • Support the Center for Auto Safety
    • https://jalopnik.com/tesla-cybertruck-hit-with-stop-sale-because-of-unintend-1851409651
    • https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktoker-trapped-hot-car-tesla-locked-her-inside-software-update-2024-4
    • https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/changing-the-clocks-helps-pedestrians-but-hurts-motorists
    • https://www.governing.com/transportation/one-citys-quest-to-rein-in-reckless-driving
    • https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/turbo-roundabout-california-update-19404019.php
    • https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V267-6161.PDF
    • https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24E032-1614.PDF
    • https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V255-4634.PDF
    • https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V256-2391.PDF
    • https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V257-2023.PDF
    • https://www.autosafety.org/av-bill-of-rights/
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Tesla and stunning negligence
    Apr 11 2024

    Tesla settles an Autopilot case before the trial starts which makes sense since Elon said they never fight true claims. Another Telsa case involving a 2 year that managed to start the car and crash into his mom has begun and Elon says that his robotaxi's will be announced real soon. Our expert opinion is that Tesla won't produce a robo-taxi within the next 5 years. Don't get high and drive because it's dangerous and the sobriety checks are so poor that you might wind up in jail for a really long time even if you're sober. Fred covers reaction time and we cover some recalls. Enjoy.

    This weeks links:

    • https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/tesla-fatal-autopilot-crash-trial-33936b42
    • https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/in-2018-crash-tesla-s-autopilot-just-followed-the-lane-lines/ar-BB1ld85O
    • https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/tesla-trial-company-sued-after-toddler-crashes-model-x-into-mom/
    • https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/teslas-bet-robotaxis-is-long-way-paying-off-2024-04-05/
    • https://www.repairerdrivennews.com/2024/04/09/kentucky-governor-vetoes-allowing-avs-on-state-roads/
    • https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/04/38134128/detection-of-cannabis-in-bodily-fluids-not-correlated-with-driving-impairment-new-review-shows
    • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28124573/
    • https://phys.org/news/2017-01-guidelines-takeover-automated-vehicles.html
    • https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V246-1564.PDF
    • https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V240-9036.PDF
    • https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V227-7296.PDF
    • https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V214-7532.PDF
    • https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V228-1895.PDF
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Backseat safety with Dr. Emily Thomas
    Apr 4 2024

    This week Dr. Emily Thomas from Consumer Reports joins us to discuss backseat safety. Did you know that there is technology to remind you not to leave your kids in the car? And it's not standardized or required, Dr. Thomas walks us through the tech, the safety of car seats and how Consumer Reports conducts testing for these items. It's a good one.

    This weeks links:

    • https://www.noheatstroke.org/
    • https://www.consumerreports.org/babies-kids/car-seats/
    • https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/2022-traffic-deaths-2023-early-estimates
    • https://www.autosafety.org/support-us/
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Dash Cam Time Sink
    Mar 28 2024

    Oh the joys of dash cams... remember just because you're the one filming doesn't mean that you're not int he wrong. Should you get one? Listen and find out. GM stops selling your data, Elon forces everyone to experience FSD, the solar eclipse might lead to more crashes, and New Jersey is trying to exempt all of their drivers from automated traffic enforcement.

    This weeks links:

    • https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/the-pros-and-cons-of-having-a-dashcam-if-you-get-into-a-car-accident/ar-BB1jM3o3
    • https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/planning-a-road-trip-for-the-total-solar-eclipse-heres-why-you-should-drive-extra-carefully/ar-BB1kA1ii
    • https://electrek.co/2024/03/25/elon-musk-mandates-tesla-install-demo-full-self-driving-beta-every-new-delivery/
    • https://www.repairerdrivennews.com/2024/03/25/report-independent-shops-face-repair-information-limitations-but-do-have-access/
    • https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-markey-and-warren-introduce-legislation-to-protect-car-buyers_bolster-safety-of-used-cars
    • https://arstechnica.com/cars/2024/03/gm-stops-sharing-driver-data-with-brokers-amid-backlash/
    • https://www.senatenj.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=278
    • https://www.carscoops.com/2024/03/the-iihs-explains-why-it-doesnt-crash-test-vehicles-at-higher-speeds/
    • https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/chrysler-to-recall-about-286-000-us-vehicles-over-airbag-inflator-issue-nhtsa-says/ar-BB1ksahX
    • https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V207-4244.PDF
    • https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2024/INOA-PE24008-10868.pdf
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 4 mins