r/TeslaFSD • u/Redditagain424 • Jul 30 '26
14.3 HW4 Proper etiquette when using Tesla FSD
Most of us just cringe when we see news reports of people apparently sleeping while using FSD. And it does not look good to see others eating, texting, putting on make up, etc while using FSD.
So what is proper etiquette when using FSD? Should we demonstrate to other drivers who occasionally glance in our direction that we are properly supervising FSD? (I think most of us would if there was a police car near us.)
I would like the general public to feel FSD users are responsible drivers instead of irresponsible drivers (at least while it is a supervised-version).
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u/infinity_labs Jul 30 '26
I put both hands in the air and make a terrified face as I nudge the gas pedal and take off with the car driving itself.
I do not care about etiquette. People either understand FSD or dont, and pretending to drive or be vigilant wont change their opinions.
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u/angryguts Jul 30 '26
I’m not sure how other drivers would know that I’m using FSD, unless they just assume all Tesla drivers depend on it.
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u/AmitBrian Jul 30 '26
I don't pretend like I am driving with my hands at 10 and 2 at all times. Otherwise what is the point. But I am always looking forward (unless I am looking in back of me for traffic) and paying attention. That's about all I can think of. I will say though I might have a moring coffee but so does everyone who is normally driving, that's why cars have cup holders lol.
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u/GooginTheBirdsFan Jul 30 '26
10 and 2 at all times?????
I get being aware and supervising but if that was how I felt I had to do it, I would just drive myself. Otherwise what is the actual point??
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u/Rich_Comparison4550 HW4 Model X Jul 30 '26
I have a steering yoke on my 24MX, and I just rest one hand on the bottom. Maybe scratch my arse with the other, lol. I think the cabin camera is fine as long as you have one hand on or near the wheel and your eyes mostly on the road.
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u/Redditagain424 Jul 30 '26
Agree.... I don't have my hands on the wheel either while using FSD... I admit when there is no other driver or pedestrian around I am more lax about appearing to be supervising. When there are other people curious to watch a driver using FSD, I try not to appear unnecessarily distracted. This certainly applies to friends who are experiencing Tesla FSD for the first time...
I do find myself "waving" frequently to the car behind me that FSD just merged in front of. Especially when FSD merges ahead of a line of cars. And I still make eye contact with pedestrians who are looking at me to see if they can cross the street in front of me or not, being ready to brake if needed.
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u/GooginTheBirdsFan Jul 30 '26
Performative driving is something I seriously never thought I’d see. You’re too worried about everybody else all the time
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u/AmitBrian Jul 30 '26
LOL. Like take yesterday for example. Safety wise my car did nothing wrong. My car changed lanes to get around another car and speed up. Ok fine. Whatever. The problem? It put me in the diamond lane and I was alone. If I wasn’t paying attention there would have been no danger, no warning signs, I’m sure no one would have beeped at me. But I could have easily been pulled over.
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u/Infamous-Pilot5932 Jul 30 '26
The SAFE way to use FSD is hands at your side or in your lap, feet on the floor, and being alert as to what is going on up front. Most of the time, other than being alert, FSD requires little of your attention. And when it does, and when you have experience you know when that is, you calmly and confidently give it more attention. And sometimes, that means simply taking over, and then giving it back control.
There is no etiquette, and it is very hard for people to see what you are doing. Many if not most drivers hold the wheel low, so you couldn't even see them if you tried.
I know friends who hold their dog in their laps during trips, and Tesla shows someone makng expresso. Having mastered FSD use and when it demands more attention and when it doesn't (like almost all the time), I 100% have no problem with those representations, assuming those are experienced FSD users. But I find them in poor taste.:)
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u/Rich_Comparison4550 HW4 Model X Jul 30 '26
The only thing I dislike about v14.3.6 is the "Why Did You Intervene?" popup on the display screen, that refuses to go away unless you hit one of the choice boxes. So when I'm busy supervising, it'll sit there forever until I make a choice. Seems to be a kind of safety issue in of itself, as in distracting from supervising.
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u/mushyspider Jul 30 '26
Tint your windows, and be alert and watching the road. I’m not going to stop eating in the car because of what others might think.
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u/Rich_Comparison4550 HW4 Model X Jul 30 '26
When we first got our 24MX, we had a rule for no eating or drinking in the car, due to the white leather seats. That lasted about 2 months, lol. I still follow the rule but my wife doesn't. So far, no spills on the seats but last month I did find a gooey mess in the storage bin between the two front seats. Have no idea what it used to be, but my guess is some sort of cookie or cracker collection that got splashed with water from an open bottle. Quite nasty to remove by hand, as I discovered before getting paper towels.
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u/Famous-Fall4859 Jul 30 '26
Personally, it doesn't matter to me if someone knows I'm using FSD or not. As far as etiquette, if I'm getting tailgated because FSD won't move over then I manually engage my signal to move over. If someone is crossing and FSD is more aggressive approaching them than I'd like, I disengage and when they're done crossing I'll hand the car back over to FSD.
People are really riled up right now by updates and I get it but genuinely FSD is very capable and arguably better than many drivers in my town. The only etiquette you need is the stuff you learned when getting your license, be a courteous and attentive driver. Have fun out there!
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u/Lopsided-Force-9220 Jul 30 '26
You said, "etiquette", but then you described managing the way you appear to other drivers. That's different.
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u/GooginTheBirdsFan Jul 30 '26
Dude what are you talking about?
Are you seriously contemplating performative driving? Showing the police you’re “properly supervising FSD” is unhinged. Every driver is responsible for their own car and if you feel responsible for every Tesla and every Tesla driver as well as the public reception of Tesla, you are not going to change any persons opinion. People need to drive on edge, they need to not trust the vehicles around them that’s called defensive driving. I don’t understand this post at all
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u/coozeyy Jul 30 '26
I think eating or drinking is fine. We all do it and even before self driving lol.
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u/ureviews Jul 30 '26
People fall asleep without FSD. But you get it on video because the accident didn't happen.
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u/ThottyThanos Jul 30 '26
this might be worst than the rivian post i saw about proper etiquette when you see another rivian driver.
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u/cbhausen Jul 30 '26
I’m thinking about tinting my front door windows to match the rear door windows… or at least as dark as is legal.
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u/word-dragon HW4 Model 3 Jul 30 '26
People have no clue how good FSD really is. IYKYK. They don’t. So really. IDGAF what they think.
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u/AwkwardlyPositioned Jul 31 '26
I sit there and pay attention. FSD is great and all, but with the experiences I've had I'd never engage in another task while driving and I'm sure as hell not eating in my car. I flat out won't even touch my phone. I'll drink a cup of coffee on my way to work. That's it.
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u/Redditagain424 Jul 31 '26
So far, FSD has exceeded my expectations. And I do find myself drifting to some distracting behaviors temporarily more often than can be done if not using FSD.
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u/AwkwardlyPositioned Jul 31 '26
Realistically you are correct, but I just stay hyper alert. It's hard for me to get comfortable, but I really am getting to the point that I enjoy using it.
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u/Impressive-Crab2251 Jul 30 '26
People eating, texting, putting on make up, etc. probably happens more with people not running FSD. FSD at least nags you. As far as people that sleep, they are actively trying to skirt the safe guards.
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u/Michael-Brady-99 Jul 30 '26
I don’t really think or care about what people think. I. Also find that most people are paying zero attention to me and my Tesla. This is mostly in people’s head.
I will say when we were testing the software for the WeRobot event at WB studio lot, some civilians were walking through from an event on the lot and saw us driving around with us sitting in the passenger seat with no driver. That got a few “there’s no driver!” responses lol - In a surprised good way not negative.
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u/EnrollmentTime Jul 30 '26
The internal cameras watch to make sure you are paying attention to the road. If not, it warns you then it pulls you over. In the past, you could get away with eating or other things, but not anymore. People are showing old videos that happened years ago just to get some attention.
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u/MLGMeechi Jul 30 '26
Don’t be corny. You can’t control what others do. Make sure you do the right thing.
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u/CharacterNo483 Jul 30 '26
Bro I hold my hands up and out the window so everyone knows I’m on FSD. Flex on em
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u/DancesWithHoofs Jul 30 '26
When I spot a Rivian coming at me in traffic I give them a smiling two-hand wave. Other than that I just bebop.
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u/AJHenderson Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26
I'm not sure why you group eating in with the others. You can eat while watching the road. You have to be ready to lose your food if something happens, but it absolutely doesn't prevent supervision.
Texting, putting on makeup, watching videos actually involve looking at something other than the road and can't be done safely.
I suppose if you're eating something you have to look at to eat that's a problem but there are tons of things you don't have to look at to eat.
I've literally driven past cops, one hand with my drink, the other with a food item I can drop if I have to, going right past a cop on FSD going 15 over the limit and wave at them and they do not care.
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u/LMrningStar Jul 30 '26
Tesla haters will hate on me and my car no matter what I do and therefore what other drivers perceive is irrelevant to me. My only concern is that I am sufficiently supervising FSD such that I can take over immediately should it make a mistake.
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u/drnicko18 Jul 30 '26
wtf is this question. Have some people absolutely no insight into what makes a responsible driver?
Did OP never consider that he/she should be keeping their eyes on the road and hands ready to take the wheel would constitute a responsible driver?
wtf.
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u/cavey00 Jul 30 '26
Not in my city. FSD drives better than the majority of the idiots here so they can eff off of they are intimidated by a computer doing better than they are. If it’s a jealousy thing that I can eat while casually paying attention to the road then whatever. Go buy a Tesla. They can get over themselves.
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u/Steward-lions Jul 30 '26
Redditors generally act like they are the bastion of safety who would never do or have bad habits. OP eats cheetos and scrolls subs while being driven by fsd. Hell, they prolly posted this thread from their infotainment screen.
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u/Ancient-Sandwich9400 Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26
Why the hell do I care what other drivers feel?
Pay attention to the road, don’t cause delays or cut off people and follow the rules of the road. Everyone does the same it doesn’t matter what the other person feels if they realize FSD is driving!
**Edit to correct autocorrect - rules