Investigation into Tesla’s Driver Assistance Systems Nears Completion
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is close to concluding its multi-year investigation into the safety of Tesla’s driver assistance systems. NHTSA acting administrator Ann Carlson confirmed the progress of the investigation, although further details were not disclosed. The agency initiated the probe in 2021 after a series of crashes involving Tesla vehicles using the company’s driver assistance systems resulted in collisions with stationary vehicles.
Tesla’s Driver Assistance Systems Not Autonomous
Contrary to their names, Tesla’s driver assistance features, such as Autopilot, Full Self-Driving (FSD), and FSD Beta, do not make their cars autonomous. Unlike GM-owned Cruise or Alphabet’s Waymo, Tesla vehicles require a human driver at the wheel who remains ready to steer or brake when necessary. The Autopilot and FSD systems control braking, steering, and acceleration only in specific circumstances.
Elon Musk’s Implication of Autonomous Capability
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has often implied that Tesla cars are autonomous. However, the company’s owners’ manuals explicitly instruct drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel at all times, be aware of road conditions and surrounding traffic, and be prepared to take immediate action. Tesla employs a driver monitoring system that uses in-cabin cameras and sensors to detect driver attentiveness, but it remains uncertain whether this system is robust enough to ensure safe use of the driver assistance features.
NHTSA’s Crash Data involving Tesla Vehicles
NHTSA regularly publishes data on car crashes involving advanced driver assistance systems like Tesla Autopilot, FSD, and FSD Beta. According to the latest data, between August 2019 and mid-July 2022, there were at least 26 fatal incidents involving Tesla vehicles equipped with level 2 systems. In 23 of these incidents, Tesla’s driver assistance features were active prior to the collisions, while in three incidents, it is unknown if the features were used. Ford is the only other automaker reporting a fatal collision involving a level 2 driver assistance system.
Note: Tesla did not provide a comment regarding the investigation.