Re: "A Fatality Forces Tesla to Confront its Limits" — Letters that should have been in the new york times

To the editor:  

While the cause of the accident that killed a driver in a self-driving car (A fatality forces Tesla to confront its limits, 7/2/16) remains to be determined, the assertion by Tesla that data is 'unequivocal' supporting the enhanced safety of self-driving should be strongly challenged.   Driving conditions in the real world are incredibly complex. When is the benefit of 'decreased workload' offset by inattention? When does the relative passivity encouraged by Autopilot decrease reaction time? In what ways might the driver non-consciously become a 'back seat driver'?   As a psychiatrist who appreciates how sophisticated the brain is I would argue that safe driving is no doubt enhanced by some technology. However, we risk losing ourselves - literally and figuratively- in becoming overly reliant on technology. Energy, time and money would be better spent teaching our youth the dangers of using technology while driving rather than chasing a grandiose dream.  

Respectfully,

  Larry S Sandberg