It was earlier reported that Tesla's autopilot system caused a bunch of crashes. As it turns out, there's even more.
Newly analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), reported by the Washington Post, has revealed that Tesla's Autopilot software has been involved in more deaths and injuries than previously disclosed. Since 2019, a total of 17 fatalities and 736 crashes have been connected to the Autopilot system.
Despite Tesla officially describing Autopilot as a “Level 2 driving automation system designed to support and assist the driver in performing the driving task,” the recent data suggests that some individuals are treating it as a fully autonomous driving technology, leading to tragic consequences.
WPLG Local 10/YouTube sicurauto/YouTube KHOU 11/YouTube
As much as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg wants safety features such as Automatic Braking mandatory in cars, he expressed concerns about the misleading name “Autopilot,” emphasizing the need for drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
The previous release of information by NHTSA in June 2022 had only attributed three deaths to Autopilot. However, the most recent analysis indicates a significant increase, with 17 fatalities, 11 of which occurred since May 2022.
The Washington Post report highlights that the surge in crashes coincides with the rapid expansion of Tesla's “Full Self-Driving” software, which went from approximately 12,000 vehicles to nearly 400,000 within a year. Tesla celebrated this milestone in its Q4 2022 Quarterly Update, referring to it as a crucial achievement for the company and marking the evolution of AI-powered autonomy.
Tesla Tesla Tesla
NHTSA has been collecting crash data on driver-assistance technology since 2021, and Tesla vehicles account for almost all of the 807 automation-related crashes in the dataset. An ongoing investigation by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation involves around 830,000 vehicles, specifically the 2014-2022 Tesla Model Y, Model X, Model S, and Model 3. Experts suggest recent crashes could be linked to changes made by Elon Musk, such as the removal of radar sensors from Tesla vehicles.
While California has already approved self-driving cars for Mercedes-Benz, even before Tesla, investigations continue and concerns persist about Autopilot's ability to detect stationary emergency vehicles. It is crucial for Tesla and other companies in the autonomous driving industry to address safety issues and ensure responsible technology usage.
Tesla Tesla Tesla
Keyword: Tesla Autopilot Linked To More Crashes And Fatalities Than Previously Reported