Mark Rober just set up one of the most interesting self-driving tests of 2025, and he did it by imitating Looney Tunes. The former NASA engineer and current YouTube mad scientist recreated the classic gag where Wile E. Coyote paints a tunnel onto a wall to fool the Road Runner.
Only this time, the test subject wasn’t a cartoon bird… it was a self-driving Tesla Model Y.
The result? A full-speed, 40 MPH impact straight into the wall. Watch the video and tell us what you think!
Are you seriously driving at speeds of 70 mph in dense urban environments…?
Because, speaking as someone who has lived in many dense urban environments, that’s insane.
The only time you should reach those speeds is on the freeway, in which case, there’s no reason not to maintain safe distances, again, when at those speeds.
Im talking about the freeway, yes.
And you’re so worried about people getting in front of you, on the freeway, that you instead opt to drive without a safe breaking distance when traveling at 70 mph?
Again, as someone who has lived in, and had daily hell commutes in many dense urban cities, that’s insane.
In your defense, anecdotally, you’re clearly not alone in that mentality.
Personally, I found, over many years, that simply staying in the “slow” lane, while keeping a safe distance, never made my commute meaningfully longer.