Tesla self-driving software update begins roll out though company says to use with caution

Tesla owners who want to tap into a self-driving feature when traveling local streets got a boost this weekend, when the electric car maker began releasing a much anticipated software update, reports say. The updates to the Full Self-Driving beta version 9 became available Saturday according to tech publication The Verge, and Electrek, a news site dedicated to reports about Tesla and other electric vehicles. The update expands assisted driving capabilities for a small pool of Tesla owners who get to try out features early, according to Electrek. Tesla's assisted driving programs have come under scrutiny in the wake of several accidents involving Teslas, including some that were in Autopilot mode. In the wake of those incidents, federal transportation officials have said Tesla has done an inadequate job of monitoring drivers to make sure they are engaged and also has permitted the Autopilot feature to be used on roads where it's not suitable.