The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) is taking note of recent changes by Tesla to scale back use of the term “Autopilot” in California following regulatory pressure. While this may seem like a simple branding change, it highlights a much larger safety issue the MRF has warned about for years, drivers often misunderstand the actual capabilities of these systems.
Advanced driver-assistance features can help a driver, but they do not replace the driver. When names or marketing suggest otherwise, many motorists become too confident and pay less attention to the road. A better way to describe the problem is that drivers are misinformed about the limitations of the technology. That confusion can lead to delayed reactions, poor decisions, and dangerous situations.
For motorcyclists, that risk is even greater. When a driver assumes the vehicle is “handling it,” riders can be overlooked entirely. An uninformed driver is a real concern to everyone on the road, especially those without the protection of a steel cage.
The MRF supports innovation that improves safety, but technology must be paired with clear language and proper driver education. No matter how advanced a system becomes, the responsibility to operate a vehicle safely still rests with the human behind the wheel.
