Ohio Personal Injury Blog

Ohio motorists may be interested in a recent safety report regarding self-driving automobiles manufactured by Tesla. Researchers with Consumer Reports stated that Tesla's recent update of the Navigate on Autopilot feature is potentially dangerous to drivers. During a Consumer Reports test of the Model 3, the Autopilot feature made a serious error by cutting off other approaching vehicles. The feature also passed other vehicles illegally. Consumer Reports claimed that the Navigate on Autopilot feature did not perform as well as human drivers. In addition, the feature created other potential risks.

The automated navigator did not leave ample space between vehicles, cut off approaching automobiles and passed other vehicles illegally. Drivers would need to intervene when using this feature in order to drive safely. In fact, Tesla's Autopilot caused three car accidents during the past few years resulting in death. The so-called convenience of allowing the vehicle to change lanes without the driver's interference is, according to Consumer Reports magazine, a significant inconvenience.

July 14 to 20 is when the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance will hold its annual Operation Safe Driver Week. This is to be a period of increased enforcement of traffic laws, so both truck and passenger vehicle drivers in Ohio will want to make sure they are being safe on the road. As a deterrent, police will be ready to issue citations.

Some of the dangerous driving behaviors that police will be looking for are distracted driving (especially calling and texting), impaired driving, aggressive driving, seat belt neglect, improper lane changing and the ignoring of traffic control devices. Speeding will be the number one focus of this year's event.

From time to time, the media report on brutal and sometimes tragic outcomes when hazing incidents go unchecked.