Re:Tesla Model S adaptive cruise control crashes into van
by tobz on Friday May 27, 2016 @01:29PM
(#11787515)
This already happens with "dumb" cars, and anecdotally, I've heard this independently from multiple tow truck drivers / roadside emergency responders that they specifically park their vehicles, and stand in specific spots, to avoid getting sideswiped or smushed. You also see this with state police conducting traffic stops in the highway: they pull their vehicle over, but not completely in line with the person they pulled over, giving them a little protection by putting their vehicle in the way... or they approach on the side of the vehicle that isn't adjacent to traffic.
Stationary vehicle, in a traffic lane, on a major artery, is a bad situation whether or not your car is piloting itself.
If a person was behind that stopped van, trying to figure out what the van's problem was, or if they had the van jacked up on one corner to change a blown tire, this same crash could easily have been fatal.