NHTSA Investigating Tesla after Model S Driver Killed In Crash While Using Autopilot
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating a fatal crash involving a Tesla Model S cruising on autopilot mode. This is the first fatal crash in a semi-autonomous car.
The Verge reports that Joshua Brown, a 40-year-old Ohio resident and Navy SEAL was killed when neither he nor the Tesla’s sensors saw a tractor trailer pulling in front of the car on a Florida highway. The driver of the other vehicle was not injured. Brown’s obituary can be found here. The crash occurred on May 7th.
“We learned yesterday evening that NHTSA is opening a preliminary evaluation into the performance of Autopilot during a recent fatal crash that occurred in a Model S. This is the first known fatality in just over 130 million miles where Autopilot was activated. Among all vehicles in the US, there is a fatality every 94 million miles. Worldwide, there is a fatality approximately every 60 million miles. It is important to emphasize that the NHTSA action is simply a preliminary evaluation to determine whether the system worked according to expectations,” Tesla said in a 537-word statement on the crash titled “A Tragic Loss.”
“Following our standard practice, Tesla informed NHTSA about the incident immediately after it occurred. What we know is that the vehicle was on a divided highway with Autopilot engaged when a tractor trailer drove across the highway perpendicular to the Model S. Neither Autopilot nor the driver noticed the white side of the tractor trailer against a brightly lit sky, so the brake was not applied,”
“It is important to note that Tesla disables Autopilot by default and requires explicit acknowledgement that the system is new technology and still in a public beta phase before it can be enabled. When drivers activate Autopilot, the acknowledgment box explains, among other things, that Autopilot ‘is an assist feature that requires you to keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times,’ and that ‘you need to maintain control and responsibility for your vehicle’ while using it. Additionally, every time that Autopilot is engaged, the car reminds the driver to ‘Always keep your hands on the wheel. Be prepared to take over at any time,’” The statement continued.
Tesla went on to say that Brown had a loving family, was a friend to Tesla and the broader EV community, and that the company extends their deepest sympathies to Brown’s family and friends.
Earlier this year Brown recorded a dash camera video of his Model S, nicknamed ‘Tessy’, having a near crash. In the video "Tessy" moves the car to avoid the collision and alerts Brown with the "immediately take over" warning chime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I5rraWJq6E
