Tesla has added a new feature to its fleet that provides active safety during manual driving. Called Automatic Collision Avoidance, this system uses Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software as an emergency response tool. This innovation demonstrates how Tesla is positioning its autonomous driving technology. Previously only active when driver assistance systems were enabled, these capabilities can now be activated during manual driving.

The company has integrated this system with existing technologies such as Automatic Emergency Braking and lane keeping assist. Currently, the feature is only available on vehicles in North America and has not yet been rolled out to other regions.

In Which Situations Does Automatic Collision Avoidance Activate?

The system automatically activates in two main scenarios during manual driving. The first scenario covers situations where the risk of a frontal collision is high.

For this to happen, the vehicle must be traveling at a speed below 85 mph on a controlled highway. Additionally, there must be no vulnerable users such as pedestrians or cyclists on the road, and the road must not be slippery.

The second scenario is triggered when the driver is not focused on the road or loses control. The system activates in situations such as the driver reaching backward or looking away from the road.

The vehicle can take control at speeds between 22.5 mph and 85 mph on any road type. This aims to ensure that the distracted driver continues on the road safely.

Driver Intervention and Safety Protocols

For this feature to work, users must have purchased the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) package and activate it in the settings. When the system is activated, there is a defense mechanism that prevents the driver from accidentally intervening.

The accelerator pedal is deactivated during this process, and while pressing the brake pedal slows the vehicle, it does not deactivate the system. The driver needs to turn the steering wheel firmly and decisively to take full control.

When the danger is gone, the vehicle informs the driver with an audible warning and asks them to take control. Tesla emphasizes that this feature is not a general obstacle avoidance tool and does not absolve the driver of responsibility.

This new capability stands out as part of the proactive safety measures offered by Tesla as its neural networks evolve. The company states that features such as pothole avoidance, previously announced, will also be included in the system in the future.

While consumer vehicles currently use FSD v14, Robotaxi models offer more advanced capabilities with FSD v15. How do you think Tesla’s safety systems, which interfere so much with manual driving, will affect the driving experience?

Tesla announced the Automatic Collision Avoidance feature that activates during manual driving. Here are the details of the new FSD-based safety system.