2021 Tesla Model S Collision-Avoidance Assist
The following collision avoidance features are designed to increase the safety of you and your passengers:
- Forward Collision Warning – provides visual and audible warnings in situations when Model S detects that there is a high risk of a frontal collision (see Forward Collision Warning).
- Automatic Emergency Braking – automatically applies to brake to reduce the impact of a frontal collision (see Automatic Emergency Braking).
- Obstacle-Aware Acceleration – reduces acceleration if Model S detects an object in its immediate driving path (see Obstacle-Aware Acceleration).
Forward Collision Warning
Model S monitors the area in front of it for the presence of an object such as a vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian. If a collision is considered likely unless you take immediate corrective action, Forward Collision Warning is designed to sound a chime and highlight the vehicle in front of you in red on the instrument panel. If this happens, TAKE IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION.
Warnings cancel automatically when the risk of a collision has been reduced (for example, you have decelerated or stopped Model S, or the object in front of your vehicle has moved out of your driving path). If immediate action is not taken when Model S issues a Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking (if enabled) may automatically apply the brakes if a collision is considered imminent (see Automatic Emergency Braking).
By default, Forward Collision Warning is turned on. To turn it off or adjust its sensitivity, touch . Instead of the default warning level of Medium, you can turn the warning Off, or you can choose to be warned Late or Early.
Automatic Emergency Braking
Model S is designed to determine the distance from a detected object traveling in front of it. When a frontal collision is considered unavoidable, Automatic Emergency Braking is designed to apply the brakes to reduce the vehicle’s speed and therefore, the severity of the impact. The amount of speed that is reduced depends on many factors, including driving speed and environment.
When Automatic Emergency Braking applies the brakes, the instrument panel displays a visual warning and sounds a chime. You may also notice abrupt downward movement of the brake pedal. The brake lights turn on to alert other road users that you are slowing down.
Automatic Emergency Braking operates only when driving between approximately 3 mph (5 km/h) and 90 mph (150 km/h).
In addition, your vehicle may apply the brakes, regardless of driving speed, to prevent or mitigate a subsequent impact after an initial collision.
Automatic Emergency Braking does not apply the brakes, or stops applying the brakes, when:
- You turn the steering yoke sharply.
- You press and release the brake pedal while Automatic Emergency Braking is applying the brakes.
- You accelerate hard while Automatic Emergency Braking is applying the brakes.
- The vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian is no longer detected ahead.
Automatic Emergency Braking is always enabled when you start Model S. To disable it for your current drive, touch . Even if you disable Automatic Emergency Braking, your vehicle may still apply the brakes after detecting an initial collision to reduce further impact.
Obstacle-Aware Acceleration
Obstacle-Aware Acceleration is designed to reduce the impact of a collision by reducing motor torque and in some cases applying the brakes, if Model S detects an object in its driving path. The instrument panel displays a visual warning and sounds a chime when the brakes are automatically applied. For example, Model S, while parked in front of a closed garage door with Drive engaged, detects that you have pressed hard on the accelerator pedal. Although Model S still accelerates and hits the garage door, the reduced torque may result in less damage.
Obstacle-Aware Acceleration is designed to operate only when all of these conditions are simultaneously met:
- Drive or Reverse is engaged.
- Model S is stopped or traveling less than 10 mph (16 km/h).
- Model S detects an object in its immediate driving path.
To disable Obstacle-Aware Acceleration, touch .
- Obstacle-Aware Acceleration is designed to reduce the severity of an impact. It is not designed to avoid a collision.
- Obstacle-Aware Acceleration may not limit torque in all situations. Several factors, including environmental conditions, distance from an obstacle, and a driver’s actions, can limit, delay, or inhibit Obstacle-Aware Acceleration.
- Obstacle-Aware Acceleration may not limit torque when performing a sharp turn, such as into a parking space.
- Do not rely on Obstacle-Aware Acceleration to control acceleration or to avoid, or limit, the severity of a collision, and do not attempt to test Obstacle-Aware Acceleration. Doing so can result in serious property damage, injury, or death.
- Several factors can affect the performance of Obstacle-Aware Acceleration, causing an inappropriate or untimely reduction in motor torque and/or undesired braking. It is the driver’s responsibility to drive safely and remain in control of Model S at all times.
Limitations and Inaccuracies
Collision Avoidance features cannot always detect all objects, vehicles, bikes, or pedestrians, and you may experience unnecessary, inaccurate, invalid, or missed warnings for many reasons, particularly if:
- The road has sharp curves.
- Visibility is poor (due to heavy rain, snow, fog, etc.).
- Bright light (such as from oncoming headlights or direct sunlight) is interfering with the view of the camera(s).
- A camera or sensor is obstructed (dirty, covered, fogged over, covered by a sticker, etc.).
- One or more of the ultrasonic sensors is damaged, dirty, or obstructed (such as by mud, ice, or snow, or by a vehicle bra, excessive paint, or adhesive products such as wraps, stickers, rubber coating, etc.).
- Weather conditions (heavy rain, snow, fog, or extremely hot or cold temperatures) are interfering with sensor operation.
- The sensors are affected by other electrical equipment or devices that generate ultrasonic waves.