The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into a fatal crash involving a Tesla Model Y that occurred in July, according to Reuters. The agency suspects that the vehicle was using its Autopilot system, which is Tesla’s advanced driver assistance system that can control the steering, speed, and braking of the car under certain conditions.
The crash happened on July 19 in Warrenton, Virginia, when the Tesla Model Y collided with a tractor-trailer truck that was turning onto a highway from a truck stop. The driver of the Tesla died at the scene, while the driver of the truck was not injured. The NHTSA said it was conducting a special crash investigation to determine the cause and circumstances of the crash.
The NHTSA did not confirm whether the Tesla was operating on Autopilot at the time of the crash, but it said it was looking into that possibility. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Forbes.
NHTSA probes 35 crashes involving Tesla vehicles since 2016
This is not the first time that the NHTSA has investigated a crash involving a Tesla vehicle that may have been using Autopilot. According to the Associated Press, the agency has probed 35 crashes involving Tesla vehicles since 2016, of which 17 were fatal. In most cases, the agency suspected that the vehicles were relying on Autopilot or other self-driving features, such as Full Self-Driving or Navigate on Autopilot.
However, the results of these investigations have not been publicly released yet, and the agency has not taken any action against Tesla or its self-driving systems. The NHTSA has said that it is still reviewing the data and evidence from these crashes and will take appropriate steps if necessary.
The NHTSA has also faced criticism from some safety advocates and lawmakers for being too lenient and slow in regulating Tesla and its self-driving technology. Some have called for the agency to impose stricter standards and oversight on Tesla and its self-driving claims, as well as to recall or ban some of its features that may pose safety risks.
Tesla defends its self-driving technology amid scrutiny and lawsuits
Tesla has defended its self-driving technology amid scrutiny and lawsuits from regulators, consumers, and competitors. The company has maintained that its self-driving systems are safe and effective when used properly and according to instructions. The company has also said that its self-driving systems are constantly improving and evolving through software updates and data collection.
Tesla has also argued that its self-driving systems can reduce accidents and save lives by preventing human errors and distractions. The company has cited statistics from its own reports and studies that show that its vehicles have lower crash rates and injury rates than average vehicles in the US.
However, Tesla has also faced lawsuits from some customers and families who claim that its self-driving systems are defective, misleading, or dangerous. Some of these lawsuits allege that Tesla’s self-driving systems failed to detect or avoid obstacles, such as other vehicles, pedestrians, or objects. Some also allege that Tesla’s self-driving systems caused or contributed to crashes, injuries, or deaths.
