Update on test bench
US authorities start new investigation into Tesla Autopilot
April 26, 2024, 11:24 p.m
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After a review process lasting several years, the US transportation authority has come to the conclusion that Tesla’s driving assistance system “Autopilot” makes it too easy for drivers to relinquish control. The electric car manufacturer wants to solve the problem with an update. Now another test follows.
The US traffic authority has initiated a new investigation into Tesla’s “Autopilot” driving assistance system. She examines the question of whether an “autopilot” update from December is enough to address the authority’s security concerns. In an investigation lasting several years, the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) concluded that “Autopilot” made it too easy for drivers to give up complete control to the system, even though they have to constantly keep an eye on the traffic situation.
The NHTSA analyzed a total of 956 accidents from January 2018 to August 2023. 29 of them resulted in fatalities. In many cases, the accidents could have been avoided if the drivers had paid attention, the authority emphasized in its report published on Friday. In 59 of 109 collisions for which there was enough data for such an analysis, the obstacle was visible at least five seconds before the accident.
As an example, NHTSA cited an accident in March 2023 in which a minor exiting a school bus was struck by a Model Y and seriously injured. With the online update carried out as an official recall campaign, Tesla introduced, among other things, additional information for drivers. The car manufacturer points out that “autopilot” does not make a Tesla a self-driving car and that the people behind the wheel must be ready to take control at any time. The US accident investigation agency NTSB warned that drivers were relying too much on the technology.