Is texting behind the wheel of a self-driving Tesla crazy?
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Geoff Perlman
As self-driving cars get closer to reality, Tesla is striving to remain a big player. But is it sacrificing safety to stay in the game? For the past few weeks, Geoff Perlman, a 61-year-old technology executive from Texas, has been testing a free trial of Tesla's latest self-driving software as he travels around Austin. He's impressed: it can handle confusing lane adjustments and park itself in busy lots better, he thinks, than the average human. He's expecting to recommend that his 89-year-old father-in-law upgrades his own Tesla with the system, which costs an extra $8,000 (£5,950), to help out as old age closes in. But his confidence has its limits. For now, he says, he keeps his eyes on the road and does not pick up the phone to text. "Staring at the phone when you're in a several thousand pound vehicle travelling down the highway at this point seems crazy to me," he says.
Tesla boss Elon Musk doesn't appear to share his qualms. Last month, he told investors: "We're going to look closely at the safety statistics, but we will allow you to text and drive essentially".
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