One Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta tester with version 10.69.2 apparently did a ride-along with a New York Times journalist and shared their experience (via Reddit).
The poster reported that 10.69.2 was “much smoother and much less jerky,” adding that “I’m happy to report that several recurring issues are now fixed.”
The user, u/5starkarma on Reddit, named three different issues that had happened for over a year, each of which was fixed in this update taking place around Clovis and Fresno, California, where the tests were performed.
First, the FSD beta system’s update fixed a misread stop light at CA-168 and Sheppard Avenue, where the car would turn into the furthest left lanes no matter what.
Additionally, the user noted a lane assignment issue at Herndon and Willow Avenue in Clovis, at which point the car thought the wide shoulder was its own lane.
Lastly, another lane assignment issue at Peach Avenue and the CA-180 off-ramp in Fresno was fixed, in which the car was directed to the furthest left two turn lanes rather than the two straight lanes on the left side.
The poster also asked the journalist at the beginning and the end what he thought about the FSD system. After beginning the drive noting that the ride was jerky, unpredictable and slightly uncomfortable, the journalist said at the end of the two-hour drive that he had become “surprisingly comfortable.”
The journalist also went on to say he had gotten used to the car’s unpredictability and had begun trusting that the car wouldn’t crash after a little while. As for the FSD beta story in the New York Times? It’s heading to the journalist’s editor in “about a month”.
“The journalist said the story goes to his editor in about a month. He seemed to have a pretty unbiased stance and even said he has friends who have teslas and that if he lived in CA he would buy a Tesla (when I asked),” said u/5starkarma.
Last year, the NYT had headlines such as ‘Tesla Sells ‘Full Self-Driving,’ but What Is It Really?’ and ‘Tesla Sells ‘Full Self-Driving,’ but What Is It Really?’ and an opinion piece titled, ‘Why Tesla’s ‘Beta Testing’ Puts the Public at Risk’. It is unclear if this upcoming FSD beta story will paint the system in a positive light, or take a negative route to garner clicks and views.
