It could have been a multiple-vehicle fatal car crash—a driver fell asleep at the wheel driving 70 mph—but the outcome was two DUI charges.

Two driver fatalities associated with the use of Tesla's Autopilot advanced driver assistance system gathered much media attention:
- A May 7, 2016 crash in Williston, Fla. where the Autopilot failed to see a turning tractor-trailer
- A March 23, 2018 crash in Mountain View, Caif. where Autopilot didn't prevent the vehicle from hitting a guardrail at high speed, causing the Model X to catch fire.
Tesla likes to cite a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) finding that Autopilot has reduced crash rates by 40 percent, though according to Wired's transportation reporter, Aarian Marshall, "NHTSA indicated that Tesla has been misconstruing the key statistic it uses to defend its technology."
However, it appears that member of the Los Altos, Calif. planning commission has to credit Autopilot and sharp-thinking California Highway Patrol officers for not crashing on Highway 101 on the San Francisco Peninsula just over a month ago. Bay City News reporter, Supriya Yelimeli, explains.
California Highway Patrol officers tried to stop Alexander Samek's Tesla Model S traveling at 70 mph on southbound Highway 101 at Whipple Avenue [Redwood City] to conduct a DUI check shortly before 4 a.m. on Nov. 30.
They noticed Samek was asleep at the wheel and drove in front of the car at a close distance to activate the vehicle’s automatic stopping system.
The Tesla came to a complete stop at 4:04 a.m. on southbound Highway 101 north of Embarcadero Road [Palo Alto] after tailing the CHP vehicle for about 7 miles.
"CHP public information officer Art Montiel told the LA Times that “there was no training for the situation the officers encountered and attributed the outcome to their ‘quick thinking," wrote Dami Lee for The Verge on Dec. 3.
On Jan. 2, Samek, 45, a Los Altos planning commissioner, pleaded not guilty to "two misdemeanors, DUI and DUI with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher," reports Bay City's Yelimeli.
John Woolfolk reported Dec. 3 for The Mercury News on the "lively social media debate over technology-assisted driving" sparked by the incident, and notes that the CHP arrested a Tesla driver for DUI on Jan. 19 on the Bay Bridge. However, in that case, the Tesla had already stopped, and the driver was found sleeping.
Woolfolk reminds his readers that "Autopilot technology is rated Level 2 by the Society of Automotive Engineers [now SAE International] on a scale in which 5 is a fully autonomous self-driving car without a human driver."
Credit: NHTSA –Automated Vehicles for Safety
Zachary Shahan reports on Jan. 5 for Clean Technica that "Tesla Autopilot miles have been soaring as the company has scored insane sales growth in recent quarters." All Tesla models are equipped with the advanced driver assistance technology.
FULL STORY: Los Altos commissioner pleads not guilty to DUI

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Washington Legislature Passes Rent Increase Cap
A bill that caps rent increases at 7 percent plus inflation is headed to the governor’s desk.

From Planning to Action: How LA County Is Rethinking Climate Resilience
Chief Sustainability Officer Rita Kampalath outlines the County’s shift from planning to implementation in its climate resilience efforts, emphasizing cross-departmental coordination, updated recovery strategies, and the need for flexible funding.

New Mexico Aging Department Commits to Helping Seniors Age ‘In Place’ and ‘Autonomously’ in New Draft Plan
As New Mexico’s population of seniors continues to grow, the state’s aging department is proposing expanded initiatives to help seniors maintain their autonomy while also supporting family caregivers.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service