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Tesla removes Autopilot speed limit after users whine on Twitter

Published Jan 13th, 2017 4:46PM EST
Tesla Autopilot speed limit
Image: Tesla

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Tesla has rolled out a software update for its cars that removes a speed limit on Autopilot mode. Since a previous update, which was unveiled shortly before Christmas, drivers had been forced to travel at the posted speed limit when in Autopilot mode on non-divided roads. Prior to that update, Autopilot let you cruise at 5mph over the posted speed limit, more in line with how people actually drive on the highway.

The initial update that forced Autopilot to be legal was rolled out because Musk claimed that people were driving “too fast in general” on winding roads. When it was first released, Autopilot was only supposed to be used on divided highways, but people started deploying it on undivided roads quickly, and a spate of near-miss dashcam videos soon followed on YouTube.

But after Tesla limited Autopilot to the speed limit on non-divided roads, users quickly took to Twitter to shout at poor Elon:


https://twitter.com/chimichomko/status/814957759229788161

Similar comments sprung up on Twitter forums and Facebook owner groups.

Luckily for owners, it looks like Tesla has reverted the change with a new software update. In the new version, Tesla once again allows Autopilot to go 5mph over the posted speed limit, but also monitors traffic conditions more closely. If the car doesn’t like heavy traffic conditions, for example, it may ask the driver to take over or limit its own speed.

Chris Mills
Chris Mills News Editor

Chris Mills has been a news editor and writer for over 15 years, starting at Future Publishing, Gawker Media, and then BGR. He studied at McGill University in Quebec, Canada.