Tesla Autopilot detects speed limits and green lights

Tesla cars in the US can now read speed limit signs and detect green lights, following a new software update.

The vehicles’ Autopilot system generates a speed limit warning on the dashboard display and sends a notification if the car is sitting still at a green traffic light.

The features were released in the latest update of Tesla’s “full self-driving” version of Autopilot.

Tesla vehicles can already slow down at red lights and stop signs.

In July 2019, Tesla’s website advertised the “full potential for autonomous driving” including automatic driving on motorways – although it has always maintained that its Autopilot is not designed to be a substitute for a human driver.

Tesla’s latest software update applies to Autopilot cars made after 2016, which are not fitted with Mobileye cameras.

This could be used to identify somebody holding their hand up to signal stop, or a cyclist extending their left arm to indicate they are turning left, for example.