Well, this is more a driver attentiveness monitoring system than a “nag” system. Previous versions had a true nag system - in that every 10 to 30 seconds it would tell you explicitly to put your hands on the wheel. Now instead, it monitors your eye and head movements to determine that you are indeed actually watching the road properly. Even an under 3 second variation of looking at the screen for some control (or whatever else) will cause a “first level” informative message saying “Pay attention to the road”. It’s is surprisingly good, I didn’t realize how robust the interior camera is (I probably didn’t realize because the quality of image I can see on my phone of the interior camera is low, but that apparently is more due to reducing mobile data usage than due to a lower quality camera).
It also knows when it can’t monitor driver attentiveness (too much ambient light, too little ambient light, etc) and then reverts during that period to the old nag system ("touch the steering wheel).
Overall, the driver attentiveness method is far better AND far less annoying.
I wonder if the car or Tesla keeps a log of those warnings (or the video data itself). I can imagine a lot of plaintiff’s lawyers - or law enforcement - would find it exceptionally useful to have that ‘window’ into what a driver might have been doing just before an accident.
British drivers heading abroad on holiday could find themselves in a difficult situation as a growing number of ferry companies ban the use of electric vehicles on board.
Little question there’s an adaption period when new technologies arrive. For instance:
, in the early 20th century, cars generally had to pull over for horse carriages, as carriages were still a prevalent mode of transportation even as automobiles began to increase in number, meaning traffic laws and customs would often require cars to yield to the slower-moving horse-drawn vehicles.
People were afraid of the telephone at first. All that electricity! All those wires! Better to keep that dangerous thing out of your house! (The Amish still believe that.) That didn’t seem to stop the new technology for taking over, did it?
And then there was dangerous alternating current, as opposed to Edison’s nice safe DC current. The current wars went on a long time before the obvious benefits of AC won out, and those championing DC got the ignominious end they deserved.
There are always some Luddites who fear a new technology and make wild claims about how it’s Satan’s tool or some such nonsense. Know anybody like that?
The infernal Combustion Engine will hang on quite a while. Why? Because there is a segment of the population that needs a personal vehicle to get to work. But need the cheapest vehicle available. And that currently is an ICE vehicle.
The above chart will change once sub $30k EV become widely available. But when will that occur? Certainly US EV manufacturers are not rushing toward that goal.
Probably the same thing that makes some of them require less gasoline in your tank when crossing.
It depends on the ferry's rules, but generally, you can only bring a limited amount of gasoline on a ferry in a vehicle's internal tank:
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Pierce County
You can only bring gasoline in your vehicle’s internal tank, or in two U.S. Coast Guard approved outboard motor fuel tanks that are each up to six gallons.
BC Ferries
You can bring one approved 25 liter container of gasoline in your vehicle, as long as it’s properly secured. The vehicle’s fuel tank must contain the same type of fuel.
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Washington State
You can bring up to two 6-gallon portable containers of gasoline, as long as they are in good condition, have a non-spill spout, and are UL-listed or U.S. Coast Guard approved.
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Galveston
You can’t bring more than two portable gasoline cans that are each six gallons in size.
Québec City - Lévis Ferry
You can’t fill fuel tanks or transfer fuel on board.
Caledonian MacBrayne
You can’t carry personal fuel by foot, bike, or in hand luggage.
You’ll also find that if you try to put an RV on board some ferries that they require you to have no more than 1/3 tank of propane. This sometimes comes as a surprise to RVers wh haven’t travelled extensively.
No, you should not use a ferryboat with an RV that has a full propane tank. Propane gas is prohibited on some ferries, including those in Alaska and British Columbia. Terminal agents may also seal bottled gas containers before boarding.
Here are some other tips for safely transporting propane tanks:
