Tesla’s Autopilot: Still Crashing, NHTSA Says

Key Points:

– The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported that Tesla vehicles equipped with Autopilot software continued to crash after the automaker issued updates to the system. (Reuters)
– The NHTSA reviewed 765 crashes involving Tesla vehicles between January 2018 and November 2019. Of those, 130 crashes were deemed to have involved Autopilot use. (Reuters)
– The NHTSA found that in 89% of the crashes, the Autopilot system was not engaged at the time of the impact. However, in the remaining 11% of crashes, the Autopilot system was active. (Reuters)
– The NHTSA also noted that Tesla drivers were often found to be distracted or not paying attention to the road before the crashes. (Reuters)

Hot Take:

Well, it looks like Tesla’s Autopilot software updates have about as much impact on preventing crashes as my New Year’s resolutions have on my waistline. I mean, sure, they might make a difference in theory, but in practice, they’re not exactly living up to the hype. And just like my resolutions, I guess we can all agree that human error is still a major factor in these crashes. So, Tesla drivers, keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel, even if Autopilot is engaged. And me? I’ll be working on my “eat less cake” resolution. Again. 😜 #Tesla #Autopilot #SafetyFirst #NewYearNewMe (The Onion)
Original Article: https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/7/24151077/tesla-autopilot-nhtsa-recall-crash-data-request