Elon Musk's Loop Drivers Receive Script Praising 'Great Leader'

Las Vegas Loop Drivers Instructed to Control Passenger Interactions

Drivers operating within Elon Musk’s Loop system in Las Vegas have received specific instructions regarding passenger interactions. These guidelines dictate avoiding direct answers to questions concerning their tenure with the company, and deflecting inquiries about incidents or Musk himself.

Details Revealed Through Public Records

TechCrunch obtained operational documents through public records requests. These documents outline the daily procedures of the Loop, which began service in June. The system utilizes modified Tesla vehicles to transport attendees around the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC).

A key component of these documents is a “Ride Script” that all new drivers are required to follow when passengers initiate conversation.

Controlling the Public Narrative

The existence of this script demonstrates the significant emphasis placed by The Boring Company (TBC) – the system’s builder and operator – on managing the public perception of the Loop. This control extends to its technology and, crucially, its founder, Elon Musk.

Scripted Responses to Common Questions

Drivers are instructed to respond with “Long enough to know these tunnels pretty well!” if asked about their length of employment. The document emphasizes the importance of appearing experienced, even if a driver is new.

It further advises drivers to evade the question entirely or redirect the conversation, rather than disclose their actual start date. This is based on the belief that passengers may feel unsafe if they learn a driver has limited experience.

Handling Inquiries About Safety and Costs

Regarding questions about system “accidents” (crashes), drivers are directed to state: “It’s a very safe system, and I’m not sure. You’d have to reach out to the company.”

Similar vague responses are recommended when asked about employee numbers, driver counts, or the total cost of tunnel construction – which totaled approximately $53 million.

Autopilot Restrictions

The use of Tesla’s Autopilot advanced driver-assistance system is a sensitive topic for TBC. Current regulations in Clark County prohibit the use of Autopilot features within the Loop system.

This includes features like automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist.

Vehicle Maintenance and System Checks

Mechanics are required to verify that these features are disabled during routine vehicle inspections. The Vehicle Maintenance plan, reviewed by TechCrunch, details these daily checks performed by CWPM technicians.

“Maintenance staff will verify that the automatic features of the vehicle, such as steering and braking/acceleration/deceleration assist (commonly known as Autopilot) are disabled for manual loop operation,” the document specifies.

Confidential Information Regarding Autopilot

When passengers inquire about Autopilot usage, drivers are provided with a response. However, this specific content was marked “Public Safety Related Confidential” and subsequently redacted from the documents TechCrunch received.

Numerous other technical details were also redacted.

Unanswered Requests for Clarification

TechCrunch made multiple attempts to obtain an explanation for this redaction from relevant officials, but these requests went unanswered.

Addressing Inquiries About a Prominent Figure

The provided guidance extends to handling inquiries concerning Musk directly. It notes that questions about him are frequently asked and often highly charged. Given the widespread public interest in the company’s founder, it’s anticipated that such topics may arise frequently during passenger interactions.

Drivers are instructed to offer concise responses and actively steer the conversation away from personal matters. Should a passenger persist in questioning, a polite deflection is recommended: “I apologize, but I am unable to provide a comment on that subject,” followed by a change of topic.

Despite this directive, the script does outline several pre-approved answers to anticipated questions about Musk. For instance, when asked about his character, the suggested response is: “He is fantastic! He is truly inspiring and motivating.”

A follow-up question regarding job satisfaction should elicit the reply: “Yes, he is an excellent leader! He encourages us to achieve exceptional results.”

If a customer inquires about Musk’s level of engagement with the company, the driver is to state: “As the company’s founder, he remains deeply involved and provides significant support.”

Questions relating to Musk’s social media activity are to be dismissed with: “Elon is a well-known public personality. Our focus here is to deliver a remarkable transportation service!”

However, one question suggests potential employee dissatisfaction: “Are the reports I’ve read about him – regarding being a harsh employer, substance use, or restrictive vacation policies – accurate?” The driver’s carefully worded response should be: “I have not encountered that article, and it does not align with my personal experience.”

Interestingly, while extensive training materials and operational procedures obtained by TechCrunch emphasize strict policies against drug use and harassment within the Loop system, the term “vacation” is conspicuously absent from these documents.

Permitted Technologies Within the System

Due to current regulations in Clark County prohibiting the utilization of automated driving functionalities within the Loop, human operators will likely remain an integral component of the system for the foreseeable future. However, the system incorporates a substantial array of other sophisticated technologies, as detailed in design and operational documentation submitted to Clark County.

Each of the 62 Tesla vehicles operating within the underground Loop is equipped with a distinct RFID chip – similar to those employed in contactless payment systems – enabling precise location tracking as it passes over any of the 55 antennas strategically positioned along the roadways, within stations, and in parking areas.

Furthermore, each vehicle continuously transmits data to 24 hotspots throughout the network. This data encompasses vehicle speed, battery charge level, passenger count, and seatbelt usage. Passengers should be informed that real-time video is consistently streamed from an internal camera within each vehicle.

This comprehensive data stream, alongside footage from 81 stationary cameras positioned throughout the Loop, is directed to a centralized Operations Control Center (OCC) located in close proximity to the Convention Center. All video recordings are retained for a minimum of two weeks.

Operations Control Center Oversight

Within the OCC, trained personnel monitor camera feeds and sensor data to identify potential security breaches or operational issues – such as driver distraction from mobile phone use or instances of exceeding speed limits. The OCC maintains communication capabilities with each driver via a Bluetooth headset or an in-vehicle iPad, displaying pertinent messages, alerts, and a map illustrating the vehicle’s location within the tunnels.

Vehicles adhere to strict speed restrictions, varying from 10 mph within station areas to 40 mph on straight tunnel segments, and are required to maintain a minimum following distance of 6 seconds from the preceding vehicle.

Recent testing this spring revealed that some drivers were not consistently adhering to all established protocols, according to the documentation. One report noted, “Several drivers provided incorrect information regarding speed limits on both straight and curved tunnel sections. No driver could accurately state the speed limits for stations, express lanes, or ramps.”

Additionally, drivers were observed neglecting to remind passengers to fasten their seatbelts, with some indicating that seatbelt use was optional or unnecessary.

Instances of drivers failing to maintain the mandated 6-second safety gap were also documented. TBC has assured Clark County that refresher training will be provided to address these deficiencies.

Financial and Expansion Plans

Requests for comment directed to TBC, Clark County, and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) regarding this matter received no response. The LVCVA has recently entered into an agreement with Intersection Media, an urban advertising agency affiliated with Alphabet, to offer naming rights for the Loop system, with projected revenue of $4.5 million.

TBC is presently engaged in constructing two extensions to the Loop, designed to connect with nearby hotels. The long-term vision involves establishing a comprehensive transit network encompassing much of the Las Vegas Strip and downtown areas, featuring over 40 stations. This expanded system is intended to be funded by TBC and sustained through ticket sales.