DanielleBarkmanDrums

Music, drums, drumming, recording engineer, producer, co-owner of Nitrosonic Studios.

[Tesla @Tesla]

While there are many articles that do not accurately convey the nature of our safety systems, the recent Washington Post article is particularly egregious in its misstatements and lack of relevant context. 

We at Tesla believe that we have a moral obligation to continue improving our already best-in-class safety systems (https://t.co/EMIEfc5kHo). At the same time, we also believe it is morally indefensible not to make these systems available to a wider set of consumers, given the incontrovertible data that shows it is saving lives and preventing injury. 

Regulators around the globe have a duty to protect consumers, and the Tesla team looks forward to continuing our work with them towards our common goal of eliminating as many deaths and injuries as possible on our roadways.  

Below are some important facts, context and background.

Background
1. Safety metrics are emphatically stronger when Autopilot is engaged than when not engaged.

a.
In the 4th quarter of 2022, we recorded one crash for every 4.85 million miles driven in which drivers were using Autopilot technology. For drivers who were not using Autopilot technology, we recorded one crash for every 1.40 million miles driven. By comparison, the most recent data available from NHTSA and FHWA (from 2021) shows that in the United States there was an automobile crash approximately every 652,000 miles. (https://t.co/RZjjBmylTk)

b.
The data is clear: The more automation technology offered to support the driver, the safer the driver and other road users. Anecdotes from the WaPo article come from plaintiff attorneys—cases involving significant driver misuse—and are not a substitute for rigorous analysis and billions of miles of data.

c.
Recent Data continues this trend and is even more compelling.  Autopilot is ~10X safer than US average and ~5X safer than a Tesla with no AP tech enabled. More detailed information will be publicly available in the near future.

2. Autopilot features, including Traffic-Aware Cruise Control and Autosteer, are SAE Level 2 driver-assist systems, meaning –

a.
Whether the driver chooses to engage Autosteer or not, the driver is in control of the vehicle at all times. The driver is notified of this responsibility, consents, agrees to monitor the driving assistance, and can disengage anytime.

b.
Despite the driver being responsible for control for the vehicle, Tesla has a number of additional safety measures designed to monitor that drivers engage in active driver supervision, including torque-based and camera-based monitoring. We have continued to make progress in improving these monitoring systems to reduce misuse.

c.
Based on the above, among other factors, the data strongly indicates our customers are far safer by having the choice to decide when it is appropriate to engage Autopilot features. When used properly, it provides safety benefits on all road classes.

The Washington Post leverages instances of driver misuse of the Autopilot driver assist feature to suggest the system is the problem. The article got it wrong, misreporting what's actually alleged in the pending lawsuit and omitting several important facts:

1. Contrary to the Post article, the Complaint doesn't reference complacency or Operational Design Domain.

2. Instead, the Complaint acknowledges the harms of driver inattention, misuse, and negligence.

3. Mr. Angulo and the parents of Ms. Benavides who tragically died in the crash, first sued the Tesla driver—and settled with him—before ever pursuing a claim against Tesla.

4. The Benavides lawsuit alleges the Tesla driver “carelessly and/or recklessly” “drove through the intersection…ignoring the controlling stop sign and traffic signal.”

5. The Tesla driver didn’t blame Tesla, didn’t sue Tesla, didn’t try to get Tesla to pay on his behalf.  He took responsibility.

6. The Post had the driver's statements to police and reports that he said he was “driving on cruise.” They omit that he also admitted to police “I expect to be the driver and be responsible for this.”

7. The driver later testified in the litigation he knew Autopilot didn’t make the car self-driving and he was the driver, contrary to the Post and Angulo claims that he was mislead, over-reliant or complacent. He readily and repeatedly admitted:

a.
“I was highly aware that was still my responsibility to operate the vehicle safely.”

b.
He agreed it was his “responsibility as the driver of the vehicle, even with Autopilot activated, to drive safely and be in control of the vehicle at all times.”

c.
“I would say specifically I was aware that the car was my responsibility.  I didn’t read all these statements and passages, but I’m aware the car was my responsibility.”

8. The Post also failed to disclose that Autopilot restricted the vehicle's speed to 45 mph (the speed limit) based on the road type, but the driver was pressing the accelerator to maintain 60 mph when he ran the stop sign and caused the crash. The car displayed an alert to the driver that, because he was overriding Autopilot with the accelerator, "Cruise control will not brake."

More information and background can be found here → https://t.co/VoTuFFkP9D

[DanielleBarkmanDrums @BarkmanDrums]

I travel 100-300 miles per day for my courier gig, with FSD Beta 11.3.6 doing the majority of the driving. Can I please get moved into the group with 11.4.5, so that all these miles can be better used for training FSD? Please! @elonmusk @Tesla @DirtyTesLa

[DanielleBarkmanDrums @BarkmanDrums]

@DirtyTesLa @Tesla @elonmusk I got FSD beta 11.3.6 on May 23, since then I’ve already logged over 1000 miles on beta. I would love to get moved into a higher testing group with access to 11.4.2, so all my driving data could be more effectively used in training. Any suggestions? @elonmusk

[DanielleBarkmanDrums @BarkmanDrums]

@ryanshawtech @Tesla @elonmusk Thanks for the fantastic little video! The model three would definitely work for moving a drum set as you have shown, but like you, I agreed the Model Y would be a bit more practical. I just ordered a beautiful 2021 Model Y LR AWD this morning!

[DanielleBarkmanDrums @BarkmanDrums]

Quick question for you... How much of a drum kit can you fit into the trunk of a Model 3? Will a 20“ or 22" kick in a padded bag fit through the trunk opening? I really want a Y, but the price on 3 is making me wonder. Thank you!!!!! @Tesla @elonmusk @ryanshawtech

[DanielleBarkmanDrums @BarkmanDrums]

@LauraJaneGrace Please check out NitroSonic Studios!!! NitroSonicStudios,.com

[DanielleBarkmanDrums @BarkmanDrums]

@live_munro @elonmusk Please @elonmusk , so many of us would love to see Elon and Sandy Part Deux!

[DanielleBarkmanDrums @BarkmanDrums]

@live_munro @Ford Coffee and Munro teardowns are a great morning IMO

[DanielleBarkmanDrums @BarkmanDrums]

Happy AI day!!! Ready for an evening of things I can barley comprehend!

[Rosalie 🇺🇸 @seinfeldguru]

Happy AI day!

[DanielleBarkmanDrums @BarkmanDrums]

@live_munro @CorySteuben Munro Live is one of my favorite channels and Sandy Munro is a national treasure!

[DanielleBarkmanDrums @BarkmanDrums]

@jimfarley98 @Ford @FordFund Thank you!

[DanielleBarkmanDrums @BarkmanDrums]

@stevenmarkryan My goal is to get to 420 shares before the split happens. Luckily it’s a Tesla fire sale these days, so I’m getting very close!

[Maye Musk @mayemusk]

USA politicians receive millions from the gun industry so daily mass shootings are acceptable to them. Stop donations and gun laws will change very quickly. Are American lives worth it?

[DanielleBarkmanDrums @BarkmanDrums]

@sassy_composer Hi, we are a female owned and operated studio in Lexington Ky. LGBT friendly and love what we do!

[Elon Musk @elonmusk]

Since I’ve been asked a lot:

Buy stock in several companies that make products & services that *you* believe in.

Only sell if you think their products & services are trending worse. Don’t panic when the market does.

This will serve you well in the long-term.

[DanielleBarkmanDrums @BarkmanDrums]

Tune in to UA Live and enter to win a limited edition release of #UniversalAudio's #UAFX effects pedals! @uaudio just announced; three winners get the grand prize and 10 additional winners get UA swag. Learn more and enter at https://t.co/WtKjEfgCHc

[DanielleBarkmanDrums @BarkmanDrums]

@sassy_composer @Jeremy_s_Bloom LGBTQ Audio engineer right here!!!! Keep up the great posts.

[Marisa Ewing-Moody 🏳️‍🌈 @sassy_composer]

I got to talk with Popular Mechanics about Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRADs) which are effectively sonic cannons used to disperse crowds. They have been known to cause permanent hearing loss. You can read the article here:

https://t.co/4cUnOWwHkX

[Ice Cube @icecube]

Yeah, it’s time to bring Kentucky into the 21st Century.