Early turn signals on FSD

[Pops]

In the last week I have had 3 people pull out in front of me as I approached a turn. After the initial reaction of taking over and stopping FSD I realized what is happening. When you are coming up to a right turn FSD turns on the blinker. When there are other right turns or driveways before that turn, it makes people think you are pulling into the earlier right hand turns. This is resulting in hard breaking from FSD to avoid the crash and likely a scare from the other person.

Is anyone else noticing early blinker engagement?

Here is one example where it happened for me.

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[ABILISK]

People really should know better. I remember my parents telling me not to trust peoples’ signals when they were teaching me to drive almost 20 years ago. Hopefully people get the memo as FSD and Robotaxis become more common.

 

[Loudness]

I have the same issue with early turn signals, especially in roundabouts (where no blinker is even needed). Hopefully a fix is incoming with 14.3, I find it borderline dangerous. Accidents happen when people (or bots) do unexpected things like signaling for a turn you don't take.

 

[CyberRout66]

It's maddening (and sometimes dangerous) how early it turns it on. I also have the problem of it activating the turn signal around curves and IN PARKING LOTS when there's no one else there.

 

[BrockN]

Yes, definitely an issue I've seen. I'm also not thrilled with it signalling for a lane change when next to another car. If the little blindspot light is on, that should be a sign that lane changing isn't possible, so why signal your intent to sideswipe the car next to you?

 

[BabOne]

Yes turn signal is much too early. Also, would be good to get into the right or left hand lane(depending on turn direction) earlier than just a couple of blocks prior to turn.

 

[DanK]

One of our 2-lane roads turns into a 4-lane and the truck signals right to take the right lane (where NO human driver ever uses a turn signal) and just ahead is a parking lot entrance that some folks have started to pull out in front of me. Now I turn off FSD to avoid that bad signal use.

 

[PungoteagueDave]

People really should know better. I remember my parents telling me not to trust peoples’ signals when they were teaching me to drive almost 20 years ago. Hopefully people get the memo as FSD and Robotaxis become more common.

???? It is a software problem, not a people problem. When you put on an indicator it is for the very next possible turn. Tesla puts it on about 200 feet ahead of the turn, so there can be a couple intervening turns. This can be fixed with an upfdate, but is definitely an “us” issue, not the other driver.

When not driving a Tesla I intentionally put on the turn signal when turning ahead of someone who is coming out in front of me to indicate that it is safe for them to proceed now. This is basic driving etiquette.

 

[ABILISK]

???? It is a software problem, not a people problem. When you putt on an indicator it is for the very next possible turn. Tesla puts it on about 200 feet ahead of teh turn, so there can be a couple intervening turns. This can be fixed with an upfdate, but is definitely an us issue, not teh other driver.

When not driving a Tesla I intentionally put on the turn signal when turning ahead of someone who is coming out in front of me to indicate that it is safe for them to proceed now. This is basic driving etiquette.

I actually do agree with all of that.

However, if a collision occurs given all of the above, it’s the fault of the driver leaving the parking lot. Every time, without question.

Robots are joining our roads and saving lives. It would behoove human drivers to give them some space. Even walking into a QT the other day, there was one of those floor mopping robots. It probably knows not to plow into shoppers, but I gave it a little extra room.

Only issue for now is that Teslas don’t look like robot cars. Even CTs everyone assumes they’re being driven manually, and if I had to guess CT probably has the highest percentage of FSD take rate of any Tesla model. Waymos stick out like a sore thumb so people know not to trust them right away.

 

[PungoteagueDave]

I actually do agree with all of that.

However, if a collision occurs given all of the above, it’s the fault of the driver leaving the parking lot. Every time, without question.

Robots are joining our roads and saving lives. It would behoove human drivers to give them some space. Even walking into a QT the other day, there was one of those floor mopping robots. It probably knows not to plow into shoppers, but I gave it a little extra room.

Only issue for now is that Teslas don’t look like robot cars. Even CTs everyone assumes they’re being driven manually, and if I had to guess CT probably has the highest percentage of FSD take rate of any Tesla model. Waymos stick out like a sore thumb so people know not to trust them right away.

Okay, so now we expect people to wait and not trust any car that might be self-driving? When a vehicle puts on its turn signal, especially when there are waiting vehicles entering the road, it’s a universal signal for the waiting vehicle to proceed. So because of FSD’s existence, that common courtesy and driving norm is supposed to go away? The answer is to fix the software, not blame the entering driver. Yes, they would likely have technical liability for pulling out in front of the errant signaling self-driver, but morally they wouldn’t be in the wrong.

 

[ABILISK]

Okay, so now we expect people to wait and not trust any car that might be self-driving? When a vehicle puts on its turn signal, especially when there are waiting vehicles entering the road, it’s a universal signal for the waiting vehicle to proceed. So because of FSD’s existence, that common courtesy and driving norm is supposed to go away? The answer is to fix the software, not blame the entering driver. Yes, they would likely have technical liability for pulling out in front of the errant signaling self-driver, but morally they wouldn’t be in the wrong.

It’s just common sense. There’s nothing new here. I don’t pull out in front of people (neither does FSD, by the way) until I’m sure they’re actually taking the turn they say they are. So yeah, I expect that of human drivers. If we get down to logistics, technically in Texas you have to signal for 100 feet of continuous movement before any turn or lane change. What about driveways that are within 100 feet of a turn? How do we go about that? Break the law or be courteous? I’m a simpleton and think the answer is don’t pull out in front of a 6,900 pound truck. Exercise common sense, take 2 entire seconds out of your day and let it pass. Or turn, who knows. But you weren’t at fault in an accident sooo good day all around?

 

[PungoteagueDave]

It’s just common sense. There’s nothing new here. I don’t pull out in front of people (neither does FSD, by the way) until I’m sure they’re actually taking the turn they say they are. So yeah, I expect that of human drivers. If we get down to logistics, technically in Texas you have to signal for 100 feet of continuous movement before any turn or lane change. What about driveways that are within 100 feet of a turn? How do we go about that? Break the law or be courteous? I’m a simpleton and think the answer is don’t pull out in front of a 6,900 pound truck. Exercise common sense, take 2 entire seconds out of your day and let it pass. Or turn, who knows. But you weren’t at fault in an accident sooo good day all around?

You said that people should change their driving habits because of the advent of self driving cars, and be more cautious now. You literally said that thing. And that common courtesy indicators are to be ignored. You must not drive on Federal Highway anywhere in Florida because you’d be sitting and waiting to enter the road all the time.

 

[shopaholic]

The turn signal behavior is annoying and potentially dangerous. The CT turn signal is starting off 1/4 mile ahead of an exit at times.

“In most US states, including California, the legal requirement is to activate your turn signal continuously for at least the last 100 feet before making a turn (or changing lanes).”

 

[ABILISK]

You said that people should change their driving habits because of the advent of self driving cars, and be more cautious now. You literally said that thing. And that common courtesy indicators are to be ignored. You must not drive on Federal Highway anywhere in Florida because you’d be sitting and waiting to enter the road all the time.

I stand by it. Florida man should find a solution quickly if his roads are hard to navigate. I doubt an early signal is the greatest of his worries.

 

[henchman24]

I definitely feel it turns on the turn signal WAY too soon. My pure guess is that they are going extra cautious with the signal to the point of it being way too far out. Similar to how they have to do the full stop for NHTSA despite it not being natural at a lot of stops. 100 feet is most states, but not all. IE Pennsylvania is 300 feet when going 35+. No idea if that is the furthest out or not, but one instance of more than 100 feet.

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