In a future Supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) update, Tesla plans to take out the steering wheel nag, which alerts drivers to apply torque.
The upcoming FSD software updates were discussed by Elon Musk yesterday.
Tesla’s CEO says that the retrained models could be released as soon as next week using FSD v12.4.
It’s not exactly clear what Musk said about the update other than to use hyperbole, such as “mind-blowing”.
In the upcoming Full Self-Driving v12.4, Tesla will remove the steering wheel nag.
Tesla drivers call steering wheel nags the reminders the vehicle sends to keep the wheel pushed. Because Tesla does not have a way to detect hands on the steering wheel, it can detect torque applied to the wheel to “confirm” a driver is holding it.
Based on your FSD driving speed, Tesla sends out those alerts frequently.
Since Tesla now monitors the driver’s attention via its cabin-facing camera, the alerts can become annoying and redundant, since the system will alert the driver if they do not look at the road for three seconds or more.
Honestly, I wouldn’t mind it going away, since this system has never been very good. If it wasn’t for the camera-based driver monitoring system’s infamous loophole, I wouldn’t object.
More abuse is likely, but defeat devices weren’t without abuse in the beginning.
With NHTSA opening a new investigation into the Autopilot/FSD recall, Tesla is certainly taking a risky step with its move.
Whatever the case, when using Autopilot or FSD, drivers should always keep their hands on the steering wheel and be prepared to take control at any moment.
