U.S. transportation head to carmakers: Focus on safety, not coolness, with autonomous tech

It seems like something that didn't need to be said. That is, until two Tesla vehicles crashed — and one driver died — with the semi-autonomous driving system engaged.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx called on carmakers to focus not on making cool tech to impress buyers but rather safe automated driving systems during his keynote address at the Automated Vehicle Symposium in San Francisco Monday. 

“Sometimes the coolness of the technology may drive people to push the limits beyond what manufacturers have intended,” Foxx said. Adding: “We need to think about that even as we build these systems. We must consider not just what’s within the scope of their intended use, but within the uses that can be reasonably foreseen.” Read more...