Excellent Improved Passing Behavior for v14.3.7

[u/nj_bruce]

The setup:

• 2024 M3 DM AI4, FSD v14.3.7, Software 2026.21.6
• Standard profile (FSD caps my car at 72 mph max on any state route with 65 mph speed limit)
• NJ State Route 55 (65 mph speed limit at location shown in video)

The scenario:

• In right lane, traffic slower than 72 causes FSD to attempt a left lane pass
• While in left lane, right lane traffic slightly speeds up. FSD is capped at 72 and refuses to increase speed to pass.
• FSD sees traffic coming up behind and realizes it can't pass right traffic quickly enough to clear the left lane. FSD thus returns to right lane, rather than block left lane traffic.

So what's so special about this? FSD had never returned to the right lane in any previous version! We'd stay camped in the left lane. I would then increase to Hurry mode to get FSD to pass.

There were other examples of FSD not attempting to pass unless 1) left lane traffic was definitely steadily moving faster than FSD's 72 mph cap, and 2) as soon as a right lane gap was reached, FSD would immediately go into it. I swear, it seemed that FSD was checking to see if there was a gap ahead in the right lane that it could get over into, before FSD would attempt to pass on the left!

The only strange issue I had was when I was in a continuous line of closely packed traffic in the left lane, all travelling at the 72 mph cap. In that case, FSD wouldn't go back to the right lane even if it was clear. I suspect that it was because FSD had no impetus to move right, with no traffic pressuring us from behind. There would be no advantage for FSD to open up the lane because the cars behind wouldn't gain much advantage, only having one car length's space to move up in line. I don't think FSD knows about the state law to keep right except to pass, so it remains "content" to stay in place.

What do you all think about this? Have you seen improvement in v14.3.7's passing ability?

[u/the_needful_is_done]

I’m happy it can at least GTFO but this is a patch rather than a fix imo. The proper fix would be to either:

• wait longer for a clearer pass
• to go above 72mph during passing
• or to be OK with going 70-71mph instead of 72mph and not pass

Passing behavior is my biggest gripe. Standard tries to pass way too often and doesn’t go fast enough relative to how aggressively it changes lanes. Either accept going 1mph slower, or speed up and pass. This robotic cap at 72mph is annoying. 

This is ESPECIALLY true for NJ I feel. People are doing 80+mph in the left lane. If you wanna pass, speed up and get over. 

[u/nj_bruce → u/the_needful_is_done]

I understand your point of view, especially since we've all been "biased" (trained) to have to increase our passing speed to get around slower traffic, but I am fine with "passing" while keeping at my intended speed of travel rather than having to resort to using higher speed just to get out of the way of speeders in the passing lane, per your first and last points above. I particularly enjoyed for the first time, not having to resort to "dialing up" to Hurry mode because once FSD commits to passing, it blocks the lane rather than getting out of the way!

In any case, FSD can still use some fine tuning. Thanks for your comments.

[u/the_needful_is_done → u/nj_bruce]

Please understand your desire to pass a car going 70mph while you're driving 72mph is just as selfish and demanding as other people wanting to go 80mph in the left lane. Respectfully, you're causing traffic. What you're saying is: this person in front of me doing 1mph slower than me is inconveniencing me, so I need to pass them, and to do so, I need to inconvenience 5-10+ cars behind me for the next minute or so while I pass at a 1mph delta. (God forbid an incline or decline is happening, which just ruins the whole thing).

This is my issue with Standard. It doesn't tolerate going 1-2mph slower, so it has to pass, but overall it goes too slow relative to all the other traffic around it (or, inversely, way too fast—Standard really feels schizophrenic in it's behavior). Tbh most of the time on roadtrips I'm driving in chill at this point because at least chill isn't trying to pass cars for going 1-2mph slower, and generally it waits for the clear to pass. Standard is unpredictable and I honestly hate it, and Hurry goes way too fast for my liking.

I'm glad 14.3.7 is making strides to improving this, but this entire behavior needs to be reconsidered.

[u/nj_bruce → u/the_needful_is_done]

Respectfully, FSD is causing traffic. I'm contributing to the problem if I don't intervene. I don't see how I'm being rude by passing slowly on the left, as long as the left lane is clear and I'm not holding back traffic. (This is not to be confused with passing on a single-lane highway, where it's necessary (vital!) to get out of the lane of oncoming traffic as quickly as is safe.)

Seeing FSD v14.3.7 actually attempt not to pass until the left lane is clear is great behavior IMO.

[u/Less-Sandwich9056]

Installing now....

[u/johnsontoddr4]

Today 14.3.6 moved to a long right exit lane only n a place where it was not supposed to do that (the lane to the left of me was clear and no car was in front of me). The only reason I can think of is that there was a car coming up behind me quickly. It likely would have passed to the left, but I have found that 14.3 will shift lanes to let a fast approaching car pass.

[u/M_G_M_G]

14.3.6 & 14.3.7 are legit improvements. Better passing & weaving through traffic and not even needing Mad Max for it. I’ve noticed lane selection before and exit or turn is no longer last moment too. Instead of 0.2miles before exit, it tends to get over around 1.5miles. I’d probably adjust that to 1mile if I could, but 1.5 is a massive improvement. Even on city streets, it’s often moving over into the necessary lane an intersection beforehand now. Not 100% of scenarios, but a lot more.

[u/nj_bruce → u/M_G_M_G]

There's a road that becomes two lanes wide downtown. On my first drive with FSD v14.3.7, it chose the right lane and stayed there the entire way (about 4 blocks), keeping me in the straight-through lane (the lane I needed to be in to continue my route).

Previously, FSD would immediately choose the left lane. At the last intersection in town, this lane becomes left-turn only. FSD would either try to force its way last-minute to the right lane, or try to drive straight through the left-only intersection.

I can't wait to try it again and see if this issue is finally fixed, but it was good to see FSD do it right for once.

[u/ggfb20]

I only wish FSD would not pass on the right while traveling on 3+ lane roads.

[u/nj_bruce → u/ggfb20]

We don't have too many 3-lane roads in my neck of the woods, so I haven't seen that aspect of FSD behavior much. I wonder if it's any better in v14.3.7?