A carefully considered investigation hundreds of similar eventsIt highlighted a recurring trend of driver inattention combined with the limitations of Tesla technology leading to numerous injuries. dozens of deaths.

What did the investigation reveal?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drivers who rely on Autopilot or fully autonomous driving were often inadequately engaged in the task at hand; Tesla’s technology, however, failed to maintain the driver’s attention or ensure safety.

Under investigation 956 accidents from January 2018 to August 2023. Among these accidents 29 deaths211 incidents involved head-on collisions with vehicles or obstacles.

Of particular concern was Tesla cars colliding with stationary emergency vehicles parked on the side of the road, often ignoring warning devices such as lights and cones.

Tesla’s “autopilot” is dangerous

The NHTSA report highlighted that Tesla failed to design its Autopilot and fully autonomous driving system to engage the driver, leading to situations where drivers ignored safety rules and relied solely on the system, even if the danger was foreseen.

NHTSA also criticized Tesla’s approach to Level 2 automation, noting that Autopilot often disengages rather than encourages the driver to participate in steering adjustments.

Additionally, NHTSA expressed concerns about Tesla’s branding, arguing that terms like “Autopilot” could mislead drivers into believing the system is operating autonomously. The issue led to an investigation into Tesla’s marketing practices by the California Attorney General and the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Tesla responded

Tesla’s response to the investigation included a voluntary recall and software update aimed at improving autopilot warnings. But NHTSA started new investigation Following criticism from security experts regarding the adequacy of this update.

These findings contradict Elon Musk’s claims about Tesla’s safety and progress towards fully autonomous cars.