Tesla Full Self Driving does not provide Level 5 autonomy. In fact, Tesla admitted to the California DMV that it is a Level 2 technology. Why's that? Because the driver must remain alert, pay attention, and take control whenever necessary. Level 5, if it ever happens outside of Waymo or Cruise shuttles geo-fenced to specific regions of major metros boasting the proper infrastructure improvements, is many years away.

Apparently, the problem with a Tesla is that it doesn't have a driver monitoring system that causes the ADAS to disengage or bring the car to a stop if, say, the driver falls asleep, or decides to scroll Twitter, or thinks hopping into the front passenger seat would make a great Tik Tok. That's how a Tesla can travel for miles on the highway with a sleeping driver behind the wheel, or can drive itself into a tree and burst into flames without any driver behind the wheel (jury still out on this one, but there are plenty of similar examples).

GM Super Cruise, Ford BlueCruise, and other Level 2 ADAS have safety nets in place that prevent the tech from working in those situations. As soon as a driver becomes distracted, or starts goofing off with their smartphone, these hands-free driving systems issue warnings before disengaging.

Tesla fans need to educate themselves about the true capabilities of these vehicles and technologies, reject the false promise baked into Full Self Driving's name, and accept that other automakers are not only rapidly catching up to Tesla, but they're also implementing their ADAS in a more responsible manner.