After rear-end collisions: US authorities investigate Tesla's "autopilot"

Tesla's "Autopilot" driver assistance system is being examined by the US traffic authority NHTSA after a series of rear-end collisions.

She referred on Monday to eleven incidents between January 2018 and July 2021 in which Tesla's electric cars ran into emergency vehicles parked on the roadside.

According to the NHTSA, there were 17 injuries and one death.

Tesla points out to the customers themselves that the “autopilot” is only an assistance system and that the person in the driver's seat must therefore keep their hands on the steering wheel at all times.

He should also always be ready to take control.

Nevertheless, it happens again and again that drivers rely completely on the “autopilot” system.

Tesla tightened safety measures a few years ago: the software detects when the driver is not hands on the wheel and emits warning tones after a short time.

Lots of criticism of Tesla's system

The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) had already examined the “autopilot” system after a fatal accident in 2016. Back in the day, a driver died after his Tesla crashed under the trailer of an articulated lorry that had crossed the street. The NHTSA concluded that the system was functioning correctly within its capabilities, but that the person behind the wheel relied too much on it. The "autopilot" system had not recognized the trailer with its white side front and had not initiated any braking. The driver hadn't reacted either.

The NHTSA pointed out that in all rear-end collisions, the fire and ambulance vehicles were clearly recognizable thanks to the flashing lights being switched on, among other things.

The "autopilot" system was switched on in all affected Tesla vehicles.

Tesla's precautions against misuse of the "autopilot" system have long been criticized.

Videos are circulating on the Internet that show how drivers leave their seats in traffic.

Therefore, among other things, it is required that Tesla should use the camera in the interior to monitor the driver's attention.

Critics also find that the name “autopilot” is an exaggeration that invites negligent use. Tesla even calls the next stage of the program “full self-driving”, although according to the criteria common in the industry it remains just an assistance system.