The use of advanced driver-assistance systems has been linked to hundreds of crashes in the United States. These systems include lane keeping and adaptive cruise control, allowing drivers to relinquish some control of their vehicles under certain conditions. While these technologies hold promise for improving safety, concerns have been raised about the potential for drivers to become too reliant on them and not be prepared to take control when necessary. The NHTSA – National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has released data on these crashes, which include fatalities and serious injuries. This article explains the crashes related to Tesla’s autopilot and other advanced driver-assistance systems.

Tesla Autopilot Implications

Tesla’s Autopilot system and the company’s Full Self Driving mode and associated component features were involved in 273 of these crashes, with five of them being fatal. “The NHTSA’s decision to collect this data aims to assess the safety of various advanced driving systems as they become more widespread. The agency plans to continue collecting this data to identify potential defects and trends,” says Attorney Sean Roberts of  Roberts Markland LLP.

The NHTSA asked automakers to report data on incidents involving advanced driver-assistance systems and automated technology. This was partly a reaction to collisions and fatalities involving Tesla in autopilot during the last six years.

Since 2014, the government has investigated 35 collisions while Tesla’s Autopilot was enabled, including nine that resulted in 14 deaths. It has also opened a preliminary inquiry into 16 cases in which Tesla operating on autopilot collided with stopped emergency vehicles that had flashlights.

After implementing a software update that the company said could cause issues due to unexpected activation of the cars’ emergency braking system, Tesla brought back nearly 12,000 vehicles. All were involved in the beta test of Full Self Driving in November.

The directive from the NHTSA mandates companies like Tesla to report data on crashes using sophisticated driver-assistance systems and automated technology within 30 seconds of impact.

In a press conference, the NHTSA administrator, Steven Cliff, said that “the agency will continue to collect data to identify potential defect trends as they emerge.” He mentioned that they would use this data as a reference in developing rules and requirements for designing and using these technologies.

To end the press conference, Cliff emphasized that while these technologies can improve safety, it is imperative to understand how they perform in real-world scenarios.

Though this data gives a complete view of these systems’ behavior than ever before, it is difficult to assess if they minimize crashes or improve safety.

Implications for Other Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems

In addition to Tesla, other manufacturers such as Honda, Subaru, Ford, General Motors, BMW, Volkswagen, Toyota, Hyundai, and Nissan also had vehicles involved in these crashes. These crashes occurred while the advanced driver-assistance systems were in use and when they were not in use.

Ford, General Motors, BMW, and other automakers have similar sophisticated systems that allow hands-free driving on highways under certain situations. However, significantly small portions of those vehicles have been sold.

According to the NHTSA, Honda cars were involved in 90 occurrences and Subaru vehicles in 10. Ford, General Motors, BMW, Volkswagen, Toyota, Hyundai, and Porsche reported less than five.

The NHTSA discovered that these autonomous cars were involved in 130 accidents. There was one critical injury, 15 mild injuries, and 108 no injuries. Because self-driving cars were mainly driven at modest speeds and in cities, most accidents were merely fender benders or benign collisions.

Final Thoughts

Advanced driver-assistance systems, including Tesla’s Autopilot, offer significant potential to improve road safety. However, recent data highlights concerns about their reliability and the need for drivers to stay alert, even when these systems are active. Crashes linked to these technologies underscore the importance of monitoring their performance in real-world situations.

As these systems become more common, automakers and regulators must work together to address safety concerns and ensure the technology meets high standards. Drivers also play a vital role by understanding these systems’ limitations and using them responsibly. With ongoing improvements and careful oversight, these technologies can pave the way for safer roads in the future.