Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control
Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control is designed to recognize and respond to traffic lights and stop signs, slowing Model 3 to a stop when using Traffic-Aware cruise control or Autosteer. This feature uses the vehicle's forward-facing cameras, in addition to GPS data, and slows the car for all detected traffic lights, including green, blinking yellow, and off lights in addition to stop signs and some road markings. As Model 3 approaches an intersection, the touchscreen displays a notification indicating the intention to slow down. You must confirm that you want to continue or Model 3 stops at the red line displayed on the touchscreen's driving visualization.
Before Using
Before using Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control, you must:
- Ensure that forward-facing cameras are unobstructed (see ) and calibrated (see Drive to Calibrate Cameras). Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control depends on the ability of the cameras to detect traffic lights, stop signs, and road markings.
- Ensure that the latest version of maps has been downloaded to Model 3. Although Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control primarily uses visual data received from the vehicle's cameras, greater accuracy is achieved when using the most recent map data. To check which version of maps is currently downloaded, touch . You must connect to a Wi-Fi network to receive updated maps (see Map Updates).
- Enable the feature. With the vehicle in Park, touch . Once enabled, Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control operates whenever Traffic-Aware Cruise Control or Autosteer is active.
How it Works
When Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control is enabled and you are using Autosteer, Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, or Full Self-Driving (Supervised), the touchscreen displays a popup message to inform you that an upcoming traffic light, stop sign, or road marking has been detected. As it approaches the stop location, even at an intersection where the traffic light is green, Model 3 slows down and displays a red line to indicate where Model 3 will stop. To continue through the intersection—even if the traffic light is green —you must briefly press the accelerator pedal to give the vehicle permission to proceed. When you've confirmed that you want to proceed, the red stop line turns gray and Model 3 continues through the intersection and resumes your set cruising speed.
Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control is designed to operate as described only when the following conditions are met:
- Autosteer, Full Self-Driving (Supervised), or Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is engaged.
- The cameras can detect an upcoming traffic light, stop sign or road marking (for example, cameras are unobstructed and have a clear line-of-sight to the traffic light, stop sign, or road marking).
- The touchscreen on Model 3 is displaying an upcoming traffic light in "bold" format. Model 3 does not acknowledge traffic lights that the touchscreen shows as faded. If a traffic light is not directly ahead of the camera (for example, it is located at an angle of the camera's view, or located in an adjacent lane) the touchscreen displays it as faded and Model 3 does not slow down and stop for it.
st
Traffic Lights
When driving with Autosteer or Traffic-Aware Cruise Control engaged, and Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control enabled, Model 3 is designed to respond as follows when approaching intersections controlled by a traffic light:
Stop Signs and Road Markings
When driving with Autosteer or Traffic-Aware Cruise Control engaged, and Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control enabled, Model 3 is designed to respond as follows when approaching intersections controlled by stop signs, stop lines, or road markings:
Limitations
Depending on many different circumstances and environmental conditions, Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control may or may not stop at:
- Railroad crossings.
- Keep-out zones.
- Toll booths.
- Crosswalk systems.
- Yield signs or temporary traffic lights and stop signs (such as at construction areas).
- Miscellaneous traffic U-turn lights, bicycle and pedestrian crossing lights, lane availability lights, etc.
In addition, Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control is particularly unlikely to operate as intended, can disengage, or may not operate, when one or more of the following conditions are present:
- Driving through consecutive light-controlled intersections that are very close to each other.
- Visibility is poor (heavy rain, snow, fog, etc.) or weather conditions are interfering with camera or sensor operation.
- Bright light (such as direct sunlight) is interfering with the view of the camera(s).
- A camera is obstructed, covered, damaged, or not properly calibrated.
- Driving on a hill or on a road that has sharp curves on which the cameras are unable to see upcoming traffic lights or stop signs.
- A traffic light, stop sign, or road marking is obstructed (for example, a tree, a large vehicle, etc.).
- Model 3 is being driven very close to a vehicle in front of it, which is blocking the view of a camera.