Tesla has rolled out a new feature for its Autopilot called Autosteer Stop Light Warning, incorporated in Tesla's latest vehicle software update. The over-the-air update version 2019.8.3 that showed up on 23 March is designed to alert the driver about traffic lights and if they are about to jump one.
The feature has been introduced to avoid users from jumping traffic signals and ensure safer driving around stop lights.
This feature won’t apply the brakes by itself – it will instead, alert the driver, using visual and audible signals, so that the driver is alerted to take control of his/her car and slow down.
The feature, according to The Verge, will use information from Tesla's mapping data to spot traffic signals. It will also use the car's camera system which is already trained to recognise red lights.
CEO Elon Musk, as pointed out by website Electrek, had hinted at a similar, traffic light warning feature a few months ago.
This new feature is available only for the US cars for now and will be supported by Autopilot and Full Self-Driving packages manufactured after 2016. The Verge report however, says that the feature won't work on every single signal in the US.
(With inputs from The Verge.)
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