2021 Tesla Model S Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control
Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control is designed to recognize and respond to traffic lights and stop signs, slowing Model S to a stop when using Traffic-Aware cruise control or Autosteer. This feature uses the vehicle’s forward-facing cameras, in addition to GPS data, and slows the car for all detected traffic lights, including green, blinking yellow, and off lights in addition to stop signs and some road markings. As Model S approaches an intersection, the instrument panel displays a notification indicating the intention to slow down. You must confirm that you want to continue or Model S stops at the red line displayed on the instrument panel’s driving visualization.
Before Using
Before using Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control, you must:
- Ensure that forward-facing cameras are unobstructed (see Cleaning Cameras and Sensors) and calibrated (see Drive to Calibrate Cameras). Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control depends on the ability of the cameras to detect traffic lights, stop signs, and road markings.
- Ensure that the latest version of maps has been downloaded to Model S. Although Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control primarily uses visual data received from the vehicle’s cameras, greater accuracy is achieved when using the most recent map data. To check which version of maps is currently downloaded, touch . You must connect to a Wi-Fi network to receive updated maps (see Map Updates).
- Enable the feature. With the vehicle in Park, touch . Once enabled, Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control operates whenever Traffic-Aware Cruise Control or Autosteer is active.
How it Works
When Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control is enabled and you are using Autosteer or Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, the instrument panel displays a popup message to inform you that an upcoming traffic light, stop sign, or road marking has been detected. As it approaches the stop location, even at an intersection where the traffic light is green, Model S slows down and displays a red line to indicate where Model S will stop. To continue through the intersection—even if the traffic light is green —you must briefly press the accelerator pedal to give the vehicle permission to proceed. When you’ve confirmed that you want to proceed, the red stop line turns gray and Model S continues through the intersection and resumes your set cruising speed.
Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control is designed to operate as described only when the following conditions are met:
- Autosteer or Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is engaged.
- The cameras can detect an upcoming traffic light, stop sign or road marking (for example, cameras are unobstructed and have a clear line-of-sight to the traffic light, stop sign, or road marking).
- The instrument panel on Model S is displaying an upcoming traffic light in “bold” format. Model S does not acknowledge traffic lights that the instrument panel shows as faded. If a traffic light is not directly ahead of the camera (for example, it is located at an angle of the camera’s view, or located in an adjacent lane) the instrument panel displays it as faded and Model S does not slow down and stop for it.
Traffic Lights
When driving with Autosteer or Traffic-Aware Cruise Control engaged, and Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control enabled, Model S is designed to respond as follows when approaching intersections controlled by a traffic light:
| Type of Traffic Light | Vehicle Intended Response |
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At solid green traffic light, or at a traffic light that is currently off (not illuminated), Model S slows down. If you are following a car in front of you that continues through the intersection, the instrument panel displays a green stop line and provided your hands are detected on the steering yoke, Model S also continues. If a car is not in front of you, the instrument panel displays a red stop line and you must confirm that you want to continue through the intersection by briefly pressing the accelerator pedal. If you don’t confirm, Model S stops at the red stop line. Note
Model S resumes the set cruising speed when it continues through the intersection, taking into consideration the speed of a vehicle in front of you.
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Model S slows down and comes to a complete stop at the red stop line displayed on the instrument panel. When you want to continue through the intersection (for example, the light turns green again, or once Model S has come to a complete stop), you must briefly press the accelerator pedal. |
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Model S slows down and comes to a complete stop at the red stop line displayed on the instrument panel. When you want to proceed through the intersection (for example, the light turns green again), you must briefly press the accelerator pedal.
Note
If the traffic light changes after you’ve confirmed that you want to proceed (for example, a green traffic light turns yellow), Model S may stop instead of continuing, especially if Model S determines that it can safely stop before entering the intersection.
Note
Model S is not designed to proceed through an intersection when the traffic light is red or if the light turns yellow in situations when there is adequate distance to safely stop before entering the intersection.
Note
You can take over driving at any time by manually braking to cancel Autosteer or Traffic-aware Cruise Control.
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Model S slows down. To proceed, you must briefly press the accelerator pedal. If you don’t, Model S stops at the red stop line displayed on the instrument panel.
Note
To prevent Model S from stopping, and to minimize how much it slows down as it approaches, you can confirm that you want to proceed by briefly pressing the accelerator pedal at any time after the instrument panel displays the red stop line. Model S resumes your set cruising speed immediately after you confirm (taking into consideration the speed of a vehicle in front of you).
Warning
Approach attentively and be prepared to press the brake pedal to slow down or stop.
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Model S slows down and comes to a complete stop at the red stop line displayed on the instrument panel. When you want to proceed through the intersection (for example, traffic laws and conditions indicate it is safe and legal to proceed), you must briefly press the accelerator pedal. |
Stop Signs and Road Markings
When driving with Autosteer or Traffic-aware Cruise Control engaged, and Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control enabled, Model S is designed to respond as follows when approaching intersections controlled by stop signs, stop lines, or road markings:
| Type of Intersection | Vehicle Intended Response | |
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Model S assumes the right of way and continues straight without slowing down or stopping. | |
End of T-junction |
If Model S detects a T-junction based on the map data, Model S slows down and comes to a complete stop at the red stop line displayed on the instrument panel. When you want to proceed, you must take over steering and acceleration.
Warning
Model S may not stop at a T-junction that does not have a stop sign or stop line, or if the T-junction is not included in the map data. Drive attentively and be prepared to stop (when necessary and/or appropriate).
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Model S slows down and comes to a complete stop at the red stop line displayed on the instrument panel. When you want to proceed through the intersection, you must briefly press the accelerator pedal.
Note
If you confirm that you want to proceed through an intersection controlled by a stop sign by briefly pressing the accelerator pedal before Model S has stopped, your confirmation is ignored. Model S is not designed to proceed through a stop sign without stopping.
Note
Even when using Autosteer, and even if you have engaged a turn signal, you must turn the steering yoke yourself (which cancels Autosteer) to complete a turn at an intersection.
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Limitations
Depending on many different circumstances and environmental conditions, Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control may or may not stop at:
- Railroad crossings.
- Keep-out zones.
- Toll booths.
- Crosswalk systems.
- Yield signs or temporary traffic lights and stop signs (such as at construction areas).
- Miscellaneous traffic U-turn lights, bicycle and pedestrian crossing lights, lane availability lights, etc.
In addition, Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control is particularly unlikely to operate as intended, can disengage, or may not operate, when one or more of the following conditions are present:
- Driving through consecutive light-controlled intersections that are very close to each other.
- Visibility is poor (heavy rain, snow, fog, etc.) or weather conditions are interfering with camera or sensor operation.
- Bright light (such as direct sunlight) is interfering with the view of the camera(s).
- A camera is obstructed, covered, damaged, or not properly calibrated.
- Driving on a hill or on a road that has sharp curves on which the cameras are unable to see upcoming traffic lights or stop signs.
- A traffic light, stop sign, or road marking is obstructed (for example, a tree, a large vehicle, etc.).
- Model S is being driven very close to a vehicle in front of it, which is blocking the view of a camera.