For all of the controversy over Tesla’s Autopilot features,
I find it a big help. For example, I was taking an evening course at Swarthmore
College on How to Talk to Climate Change and Evolution Deniers. The drive was an
hour and 45 minutes each way. Without Autopilot I arrived home exhausted from
the strain of driving at night. By contrast, with Autopilot I arrived home alert and
almost fresh. It takes a lot less cognitive and physical energy to supervise
the driving process than to do it.
No I’m not one of those crazy people who sleep in the back
seat or watch videos or text while driving. You have to keep your hand on the
steering wheel, exactly as Tesla demands, both in the instructions every time
you turn Autopilot on, and because it yells at you if you leave your hands off,
and then will turn off Autopilot until you restart the car.
Even though Autopilot is designed for highways, I use it
extensively in local driving – the vagaries of local roads can confuse
Autopilot, especially missing lane lines and sharp curves over a hill. But it
still saves my personal energy, and is fun.
Coming out in the morning to see what new features Tesla has
downloaded overnight is always fun. For example, now my Tesla automatically
opens the garage door when I arrive home, and closes it when I leave.
