Tesla's full self-driving (FSD) technology is still feels futuristic despite deploying to the company's vehicles for a number of years now, and it's made one driver realize the 'terrifying truth' behind human operated cars when switching back.
Flying and self-driving cars have been a staple of futuristic science fiction for decades now, and have been seen as part of a utopia where people can transport themselves around safely and effortlessly.
Tesla, among other companies, made this far-off dream a reality for many with the release of their FSD technology, which was initially tested in 2020 before a full North American roll out in late 2022.
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While there is still plenty of disappointment when it comes to the availability of the tech, with recent statements from CEO Elon Musk leaving many drivers frustrated due to insufficient tech, it has proven to be a revelation for those who can get their hands on it.
The unfortunate side effect for some, however, is how much it has exposed the dangers and 'terrifying truth' of using your Tesla vehicle outside of FSD, and this has been detailed by one keen driver on the r/TeslaLounge subreddit.
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"Using FSD for 99% of my driving has me going through a psychological transition," details the Tesla owner. "When I do disengage and drive manually, I am so much more aware of how limited my awareness actually is.
"I feel a sense of vulnerability that I didn't even realize existed before I became used to relying on this tech."
It's certainly easy to understand where they're coming from, as it's only natural to suddenly feel the weight of your actions when you've spent so much time letting the car do all the work.
What they really hammer home though is the unpredictability of driving on the road, particularly in how much each driver's experience varies.
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"Every human is different. At any given moment, each person's energy and emotional state is in flux. Some of us are driving to work on a full night's sleep, others are on their way home from a graveyard shift. Some of us are drunk or exhausted or emotionally distressed or angry. The variability from vehicle to vehicle is insane."
FSD, on the other hand, takes out that variability, and offers a consistency across every single car on the road. Not only this, the poster points out that the technology within the car is more experienced than any of us could ever be, and is more equipped to deal with the potential problems you would face on the road.
"If every car on the road used this technology simultaneously," they argue, "there would be complete harmony on the road at all times. No drunk driving, no tired driving, no distressed driving, no inexperienced driving. It's such a no brainer."
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Those in the comments certainly seem to agree too - especially when it comes to our own limitations when driving. "TLDR; Humans are bad drivers," one points out, whereas another indicates that "that's where we are headed, and it'll happen quicker than we think." After all, studies have shown that self-driving vehicles are safer than their human-operated counterparts in almost every metric.
Others aren't quite as convinced by the reliability of FSR just yet, outlining that "FSD doesn't remember the specific roads, humans do," which can make a big difference when it comes to things like potholes, speed bumps, and other unpredictable quirks.
Some have also pointed out the reported faults with the tech as well, including instances of FSR running through red lights and even driving people off the top of parking garages.
There's perhaps still a way to go before FSR tech is both completely safe and homogenously used, but if it does play out like the original poster's dream then it could certainly save a lot of lives.