Elon Musk-owned Tesla failed to fix a flaw in its self-driving car system, despite being responsible for two separate fatal collisions, according to engineers who acknowledged the issue in an ongoing lawsuit over a remarkably similar 2019 incident that is headed to a jury trial.
Tesla: Flaw in self-driving car crash still not addressed despite fatalities
In a concerning revelation, it has come to light that Tesla did not make any adjustments to its self-driving car system to account for instances involving crossing traffic, even after two high-profile accidents resulted in fatalities. The first collision occurred in 2016, followed by a nearly identical accident in 2019, both involving Tesla vehicles colliding with trucks. The lack of modification raises concerns over the company’s commitment to ensuring the safety and efficiency of its driver-assistance technology.
Amidst its ambitious claims of paving the way for autonomous driving, Tesla is grappling with a myriad of legal challenges from consumers, investors, regulatory bodies, and federal prosecutors. The questions revolve around whether the company’s advancements in self-driving vehicles have been overstated during the past eight years. Furthermore, multiple investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are examining potential defects in self-driving cars that have been linked to numerous fatalities since June 2021.
Tesla self-driving car lawsuit trial
The impending trial, scheduled for October, marks a significant legal milestone for Tesla. It will be the first instance where the company faces a death attributed to its self-driving car system. Musk’s claims that Tesla cars are among the safest on the road will be pitted against technology experts who are expected to assert that the company’s marketing has fostered an unjustified sense of security among drivers.
While Tesla contends that it has transparently communicated the limitations of its autopilot system, including challenges related to detecting crossing traffic, critics argue that the company’s marketing and messaging have inadvertently misled drivers. The company’s owner’s manual and in-car warnings emphasise the necessity for drivers to remain vigilant and prepared to take control of the vehicle at any moment.
The trial centers around the tragic 2019 collision involving Jeremy Banner, whose Tesla Model 3, operating on autopilot, crashed into the underside of a tractor-trailer. The family’s lawsuit alleges that Tesla should have reprogrammed autopilot to disengage in hazardous situations. The plaintiff’s argument is supported by experts, including Mary “Missy” Cummings, a former adviser to the NHTSA, who contends that Tesla’s failure to improve autopilot between the two fatal crashes constitutes intentional misconduct and gross negligence.
