Another Tesla driver died over the weekend, this time in California. The collision occurred when a Tesla rammed a hearth truck parked throughout two freeway lanes to guard first responders who have been making ready to tow a disabled car at about 4 a.m. Saturday.
Authorities don’t but know if the motive force had Autopilot or Full Self Driving (FSD) engaged. A passenger within the Tesla was additionally injured within the collision.
The incident is definite to lift extra considerations about Tesla’s superior driver help methods, that are already the topic of intense scrutiny on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
According to the Los Angeles Times, Tesla reported 516 collisions involving its ADAS methods over the interval from July 1, 2021 to Nov. 30, 2022. In the identical interval, Ford reported seven such collisions, and GM reported simply two for its merchandise.
When equalized for the variety of ADAS-equipped automobiles on the street, Tesla’s numbers are nonetheless excessive. If Teslas crashed on the similar fee as equally geared up GM and Ford automobiles, there would have been 70 collisions.
Active FSD recall
This collision comes within the wake of a controversial recall of virtually 363,000 Tesla automobiles geared up with the corporate’s Full Self-Driving beta software program. The firm agreed to an over-the-air replace beneath strain from NHTSA, and CEO Elon Musk insists this isn’t the identical factor as a recall, despite the fact that the top outcome is identical.
However, the particular issues addressed within the recall wouldn’t have prevented this weekend’s fatality. The recall addresses points with FSD regarding yellow mild timing, negotiating cease indicators, variable pace zones, and lane modifications. According to Tesla, there have been no studies of any crashes, accidents or deaths in any of these situations associated to the recall, and the issues are merely visitors code violations.
SEC investigation
Claims made by Tesla and CEO Musk about self-driving capabilities have additionally resulted in an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on how the corporate’s advertising practices could have affected its inventory value. A category-action lawsuit is pending, in addition to an investigation by the California DMV.
At the guts of the difficulty is whether or not Tesla has deliberately misled customers to imagine Autopilot and FSD are true, hands-free methods. Critics have pointed to an early video launched by the automaker implying such capabilities, in addition to e-mails from Musk ordering edits to the video. Testimony by the present head of the Autopilot improvement group in an ongoing lawsuit has additionally raised questions on Tesla’s advertising technique.
Drivers are nonetheless shopping for
Even within the face of those troubles, patrons are nonetheless sizzling to buy Tesla merchandise. The high two automobiles bought in California in 2022 have been Teslas, with the Model Y claiming the highest spot, adopted by the Model 3. The Model Y accounted for 87,257 registrations or 7.6% market share for mild vans, whereas the Model 3 was the top-selling passenger automotive mannequin within the state, with 78,934 registrations. Both automobiles offered over 20,000 items greater than the second-place automobiles, the Toyota RAV4 and Toyota Camry respectively.
At some level, with the variety of deadly crashes doubtless involving Tesla’s ADAS methods persevering with to rise, the main focus of renewed security efforts could shift to educating Tesla drivers.
Tesla homeowners have the power to disengage Autopilot and FSD and drive the automobiles themselves, which would appear just like the sensible alternative if Tesla automobiles proceed to ram into stationary objects at freeway speeds.
Source: www.thedetroitbureau.com