NHTSA's Tesla Autopilot Death Investigation Comes to a Close
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has closed the book on a six-month investigation into the death of a Tesla owner — and enthusiast — who died in a car piloted by the company’s semi-autonomous Autopilot system. What did the federal investigation uncover? Not enough to warrant a recall or further probing into the technology.
In fact, the NHTSA’s report clears Tesla’s Autopilot system of any responsibility in the incident.
Released earlier today, the full report actually praises Tesla’s semi-autonomous technology and notes a 40 percent decrease in traffic accidents involving the brand since Autopilot’s introduction. The investigation also found no defects in the design or implementation of Tesla’s automatic emergency braking systems or its assisted-cruise functionality.
While Reuters had already reported that the investigation would likely not result in a recall of any vehicles, the glowing praise from the NHTSA is unexpected. Numerous safety and consumer advocacy groups have been openly skeptical of the Autopilot system and of Tesla having done its due diligence before releasing it. Not so, according to the report.
Tesla even anticipated the potential for operator mishandling of the system and incorporated those factors into the software’s design. The company rolled out an update to that software in September by adding new limits on hands-free driving, audible warning tones, and other improvements that Tesla CEO Elon Musk claimed could have prevented the fatality spurring the investigation.
Autopilot was introduced in October 2015 and became the focus of heavy scrutiny when it came to light that Joshua Brown, a Tesla Model S driver from Ohio, was involved in a fatal May 7 collision while using the technology. Brown’s Tesla struck a transport truck that was crossing the Florida highway in front of him.
Prior to the NHTSA’s release of its findings, a lawyer for Brown’s family said the family intends to evaluate all of the information from the investigation “before making any decisions or taking any position on these matters.”
[Image: Tesla]
Consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulations. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, he has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed about the automotive sector by national broadcasts, participated in a few amateur rallying events, and driven more rental cars than anyone ever should. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and learned to drive by twelve. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer and motorcycles.
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didnt tesla get a 6 out of 5 star safety rating from them? yes... 6.
Tesla testing plan is very simple. You buy a car. You check that everything works at the delivery time. Then they want to sell more cars so they add features. They push them on you (you cant refuse the update) so you will be the tester. Stuff you paid for gets broken. But Tesla doesn't care since you've already paid. Now you are their test department. You complain, they eventually fix, new users attracted by new features, they sell more cars, gain even more "testers". Want to be a freelance software tester and pay for the job? Buy Tesla.