Fatal Crash with Tesla Autopilot Draws National Scrutiny

The push to get autonomous vehicles like the Tesla Model S on the road, is that they are safer because they remove the chance for human error. But a recent fatal crash involving Tesla’s autopilot technology has drawn the attention of federal regulators, and could slow down the march toward driverless vehicles.

On May 7 in Williston, Florida, Joshua Brown was killed because neither he, nor his car, saw a tractor-trailer pull in front of him. His Tesla Model S, which was in Autopilot mode, didn’t hit the brakes. Instead, the car plowed into the back of the semi, killing its driver.

Telsa cars equipped with Autopilot use a camera and built-in radar system to steer the vehicle for short periods of time. While it isn’t a fully autonomous driving system, it can slow or stop the vehicle based on traffic. Telsa warns drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel and remain alert when Autopilot is in use.

Now it seems that warning is warranted. Following Brown’s Florida crash, a Michigan resident, Albert Scaglione, had a run in with a concrete barrier while using his Tesla Model X sports utility vehicle. He says the Autopilot was engaged when the vehicle scraped a guardrail and the barrier before rolling over.

The accidents have gotten the attention of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). While NHTSA deals with defective automobiles all the time, the NTSB usually specializes in determining the cause of crashes of other self-driving transportation, like trains and airplanes. The New York Times reported:

“I think it’s very appropriate that N.T.S.B. is doing this, and I welcome it,” said Joan Claybrook, a former National Highway Traffic Safety Administration administrator who continues to advocate improved auto safety. “I think there’s an urgency to find out if these autonomous systems are at fault because companies continue to push hard to get the technology onto the road.”

The crashes raise the question of whether driverless vehicles are ready to drive. Karl Brauer, an analyst with the auto research firm Kelley Blue Book, told the New York Times:

“This is a bit of a wake-up call. . . . People who were maybe too aggressive in taking the position that we’re almost there, this technology is going to be in the market very soon, maybe need to reassess that.”

Tesla and other automakers rushing to put driverless cars on the roads need to take this as a lesson. Their push to market should never take precedence over motorists’ safety. Before they release a vehicle for sale, they need to be sure it is up to any circumstance the road may present.

Dani K. Liblang is a lemon law lawyer at The Liblang Law Firm, PC, in Birmingham, Michigan. She represents the victims of automotive defects. If you have been injured by a defective vehicle, contact The Liblang Law Firm, PC, today for a free consultation.