Clinical Report: Experiences of a Driver with Vision Impairment when Using a Tesla Car

Assisted and autonomous driving technologies may be a new paradigm shift for the driving rehabilitation field to enable less restricted driving, increase driving confidence, and maintain driving safety for drivers with vision impairment.

This study aimed to document how a driver with vision impairment uses assistance and automation systems in a Tesla car based on real-world experiences of using these technologies.

A 53-year-old man with Stargardt disease and 20/182 visual acuity self-explored the use of driver assistance technologies, which resulted in purchasing a Tesla Model Y with the full self-driving package in 2020. Two semistructured interviews were administered to quantify the driver's driving habits, adaptive strategies, use of the assisted and semiautonomous driving features in the Tesla car, and use of his bioptic telescope.

When driving a Tesla car, the patient developed new driving strategies by codriving with different assisted and semiautonomous functions (e.g., Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control, Autopilot) in different road environments. He shifted his main task from active driving to supervising the car automation systems in most driving situations. He also integrated a new use of his bioptic telescope to support him with monitoring the road environment before granting permission to the automated systems for car maneuver changes. The patient reported that driving confidence greatly increased and that he is able to drive more often and in situations that he would otherwise avoid because of difficulties related to his vision.

This clinical report demonstrates how assisted and semiautonomous driving systems in a Tesla car were used to support daily driving by a driver with vision impairment. Codriving with these systems allows him to confidently drive more often and to avoid less situations than he used to.