--- title: "Amazing! New Tesla Autopilot Update Will Avoid Crashing Into Emergency Vehicles" description: "Tesla has made some changes under the hood via an over-the-air software update to prevent future collisions with emergency vehicles." date: "2021-09-27" modified: "2021-09-27" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/tesla-autopilot-update-crashing-emergency-vehicle" categories: - "Advanced Transport" - "Tesla" tags: - "Self-driving cars" - "tesla" - "the digest" --- # Amazing! New Tesla Autopilot Update Will Avoid Crashing Into Emergency Vehicles ![Tesla has made some changes under the hood via an over-the-air software update to prevent future collisions with emergency vehicles.]() *\Image: Getty Images\* ## Emergency Crash Tesla's self-driving software may have a problem that recently culminated in [an investigation]() by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: its cars seem to keep ramming into stationary emergency response vehicles while Autopilot was turned on. According to the regulator, there were at least [11 crashes]() since January 2018 resulting in 17 injuries and one death. At least the electric car company seems to be aware of the problem. According to a recently released owner's manual, as [spotted by Twitter account Analytic.eth](), Tesla has made some changes via an over-the-air software update to prevent future collisions with emergency vehicles — at least at night. "If Model3/ModelY detects lights from an emergency vehicle when using Autosteer at night on a high speed road, the driving speed is automatically reduced and the touchscreen displays a message informing you of the slowdown," the manual reads. "You will also hear a chime and see a reminder to keep your hands on the steering wheel," the document reads. "When the light detections pass by or cease to appear, Autopilot resumes your cruising speed." ## Slowing Down While the documentation has yet to be confirmed by an official source, a video [shared last week on the subreddit teslamotors]() appears to show the changes in action. A small text box overlay notifies the driver that "Autopilot speed" was "limited for emergency vehicles." The parked police cruiser, however, didn't actually appear in the visualization of the roadway. It's also unclear why the feature only kicks in at night. But at least it seems like a step in the right direction. Every little bit helps in ensuring that Tesla drivers — and especially other drivers around them sharing the road — are safe. **READ MORE:** [Tesla Autopilot Will Now Recognize Emergency Lights, Reduce Speed: Report]() \[*The Drive*\] ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()