Official Tesla video showing once-in-a-lifetime training scenarios. Learn more at tesla.com/fsd
REF: ESW020926EN
Tesla’s Claim: Safer Than Human Drivers
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised), or FSD, has been getting a lot of attention lately, especially after Tesla stated that when FSD is engaged, it is seven times safer than a human driver. After learning that some rideshare drivers were already using it, I decided to give it a try myself. As an Uber and Lyft driver, that claim naturally caught my attention. After personally testing FSD for several days, I wanted to share my experience and open an honest conversation with fellow rideshare drivers.
My Real-World Experience With FSD
First, let me be clear: FSD is impressive. I have fully tested it both with and without passengers, always paying extreme attention to the vehicle’s behavior and acting quickly when needed. This includes taking over depending on road conditions, traffic patterns, and unexpected situations.
Based on my real-world use, I would say FSD is about 95–99% reliable. There are certain road conditions and specific scenarios where it is not 100% accurate, but for the most part, it performs extremely well. At the time of this publication, I am using Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software version 12.6.4, and given Tesla’s track record with over-the-air updates, we can realistically expect continued improvements in performance over time.
360° Awareness and Driver Monitoring
One of the biggest advantages of FSD is that it never gets tired, distracted, or emotional. Cameras don’t blink or lose focus. Tesla vehicles are equipped with exterior cameras that provide 360-degree visibility around the vehicle. At the same time, the system is also monitoring the driver to make sure they are paying attention and staying focused on the road.
If the system detects that the driver is distracted, it issues warnings. After five strikes, FSD is disabled for about a week. In practice, this has had an unexpected effect on me.
Becoming an Even More Focused Driver
Even though I already consider myself a safe and defensive driver, I now find myself paying even more attention to the road than ever before. I’ve been driving full-time for almost nine years and have completed more than 28,000 rides between Uber and Lyft combined. I always drive defensively and have taken defensive driving courses, which help a lot in becoming a better driver. Still, driving with FSD engaged has raised my level of focus even higher.
Collision Prevention and Everyday Driving Benefits
From a safety perspective, this raises an important question. If FSD truly helps prevent collisions by reacting faster than humans, detecting blind spots, and responding to sudden lane changes or distracted drivers around us, shouldn’t we at least consider it?
The system can intervene when another driver makes a mistake, drifts into your lane, or creates a dangerous situation. It can also help reduce missed turns, wrong exits, and navigation errors when you’re taking a passenger to an unfamiliar destination.
Insurance, Liability, and Proof in Case of an Accident
Another aspect I’ve been thinking about is insurance and liability. If FSD is statistically safer, could using it eventually help reduce our car insurance costs? That remains to be seen, but it’s a reasonable question, especially as insurers gain access to more data around assisted and autonomous driving systems.
There’s also the issue of fault in the event of an accident. Tesla vehicles record data from multiple built-in cameras, and many of us also use our own dashcams. In a collision scenario, that footage could potentially help prove that the accident was not our fault, or that the vehicle performed an evasive maneuver in an attempt to avoid the collision. For professional drivers, having clear, objective evidence could make a significant difference when dealing with insurance claims or disputes.
Navigation, Control, and Flexibility
Tesla’s navigation system may sometimes choose a route that is slightly different from what you see on your phone’s GPS, but you can always take over manually, continue driving the way you want, and then re-engage FSD. You can also check whether Tesla’s navigation offers alternative routes that are similar to the ones shown on your mobile GPS.
Renting a Tesla and Access to FSD
One important limitation to be aware of is how you’re renting your Tesla. If you rent through the Uber/Hertz program, you won’t be able to add the FSD subscription to the vehicle. That option simply isn’t available through that program.
In my case, I was able to activate FSD by renting a Tesla through DriveWhip. These are the only two companies I’ve personally rented from, so I can’t speak for other rental programs or whether they allow access to features that are usually reserved for Tesla owners.
DriveWhip also allows you to drive for multiple platforms like Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, etc.
I did reach out to DriveWhip support with a related suggestion. I asked whether it would be possible for drivers to connect both their Uber and Lyft accounts to their Tesla account, allowing navigation routes to be automatically sent to the Tesla screen and battery level information to be shared. This could help better match rides that can realistically be completed with the available charge and make the overall experience smoother for full-time rideshare drivers.
Should Rideshare Drivers Embrace This Technology?
This leads to the bigger question I want to ask my fellow Uber and Lyft drivers. If we assume that driving with FSD is safer for us, our passengers, and other drivers on the road, would you be willing to use it? Could it help reduce stress once you trust the software to do the right thing, or would you avoid it because you believe that by using it, you’re feeding the system that may eventually take your job?
Is the $99 per Month Subscription Worth It?
Another important factor to consider is the cost. Tesla’s FSD subscription is $99 per month. For a full-time rideshare driver, that breaks down to roughly $3.30 per day plus tax.
From a business perspective, this cost is deductible, which reduces the real out-of-pocket impact at the end of the year. When you look at it on a daily basis, the question becomes whether spending a few dollars per day is worth the potential reduction in risk, stress, and mental fatigue.
If FSD helps prevent even one accident, close call, or costly insurance claim, the subscription could pay for itself many times over. There is also the less obvious benefit of reduced stress. Driving long hours in traffic, dealing with aggressive drivers, and constantly staying alert takes a toll over time. If FSD helps shoulder part of that load while still requiring full supervision, that alone may be worth considering for some drivers.
Are We Really Influencing the Outcome?
Personally, I think that concern is understandable, but I also believe the outcome is largely inevitable. Tesla reports that more than 7.6 billion miles have already been driven using FSD across seven countries, including the United States, Canada, China, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea.
All of that data is continuously improving the software through over-the-air updates. Whether Uber and Lyft drivers use FSD or not, there are already countless private Tesla owners contributing real-world driving data. The system is learning regardless of our participation.
Technology, History, and Inevitable Change
History shows us that when technology, money, and lobbying move in the same direction, progress happens with or without resistance. Entire professions have been disrupted before, and while that is never easy, those changes often lead to new roles, new skills, and new opportunities.
Tesla itself is very clear about where this is heading. As Full Self-Driving technology continues to advance, the goal is a fully autonomous future, including robotaxis and vehicles designed specifically for that purpose. It may take longer than some expect, but it is hard to argue that we are not moving in that direction.
Final Thoughts
So I’ll leave you with this question. Do you think using FSD means we are shooting ourselves in the foot, or do you believe it won’t really make a difference in the long run? Are we better off resisting it, or learning how to adapt, benefit from it now, and prepare for what comes next?
I’m genuinely curious to hear what you think.
Here’s one of the videos I watched about rideshare drivers using Tesla FSD:
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