Tesla driver dies in Autopilot crash

A Telsa Model S has been involved in a fatal crash while in Autopilot mode. Not the first Autopilot accident, as shown in this video, first published on 25 May.



Apparently, the Autopilot system was confused when the car it was following changed lanes to avoid the stopped van. Perhaps most significantly, afterwards, the driver was quoted as saying, “Yes, I could have reacted sooner, but when the car slows down correctly 1,000 times, you trust it to do it the next time too. My bad ...” – Electrek http://electrek.co/2016/05/26/tesla-model-s-crash-autopilot-video/

Wired reported on a transcontinental US trip which ended in Manhattan on Wednesday 21 October 2015. Autopilot was engaged for 96 percent of the trip. One of the drivers, Alex Roy, was later quoted:

‘Autopilot caused a few scares, Roy says, largely because the car was moving so quickly. “There were probably three or four moments where we were on autonomous mode at 90 miles an hour, & hands off the wheel,” & the road curved, Roy says. Where a trained driver would aim for the apex – the geometric center of the turn – to maintain speed & control, the car follows the lane lines. “If I hadn’t had my hands there, ready to take over, the car would have gone off the road & killed us.” He’s not annoyed by this, though. “That’s my fault for setting a speed faster than the system’s capable of compensating.”’ – Wired https://www.wired.com/2015/10/obviously-drivers-are-already-abusing-teslas-autopilot/

Take home message from the above, is that while Autopilot is able to reduce the driver’s workload, it is not yet ready to be solely responsible for safety. This is consistent with its status as a beta release. When used responsibly, as described by Alex Roy, Autopilot is safe to use, while always remembering that is an aid, not a replacement for the driver.

Tesla's response to the fatality:
https://www.teslamotors.com/en_AU/blog/tragic-loss?redirect=no

The Verge:
http://www.theverge.com/2016/6/30/12072408/tesla-autopilot-car-crash-death-autonomous-model-s

The Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jun/30/tesla-autopilot-death-self-driving-car-elon-musk

Thanks to Miemie & Glenn for this item. / National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA opening preliminary evaluation performance Autopilot recent fatal crash occurred Model S first known fatality over 130 million miles Autopilot was activated all vehicles in the US fatality every 94 million miles worldwide fatality every 60 million miles National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA action preliminary evaluation determine system worked according to expectations standard practice Tesla informedNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA incident immediately after it occurred vehicle divided highway Autopilot engaged tractor trailer drove across the highway perpendicular Model S Autopilot driver noticed white side tractor trailer against brightly lit sky brake was not applied high ride height trailer combined positioning across the road extremely rare circumstances impact caused Model S pass under the trailer bottom of the trailer impacting windshield Model S Model S impacted front or rear trailer high speed advanced crash safety system prevented serious injury numerous other similar incidents Tesla disables Autopilot by default requires explicit acknowledgement system is new technology public beta phase enabled drivers activate Autopilot acknowledgment box explains Autopilot assist feature requires keep hands steering wheel at all times maintain control responsibility your vehicle Autopilot engaged car reminds the driver always keep your hands on the wheel be prepared to take over at any time system makes frequent checks ensure driver's hands remain on the wheel provides visual audible alerts if hands-on is not detected gradually slows down until hands-on is detected again ensure every time the feature is used used as safely as possible more real-world miles accumulate software logic accounts for increasingly rare events probability of injury will keep decreasing Autopilot getting better not perfect requires driver remain alert used conjunction driver oversight data unequivocal Autopilot reduces driver workload results statistically significant improvement safety compared purely manual driving crash loving family saddened loss friend Tesla broader EV community life focused on innovation promise of technology believed strongly Tesla’s mission extend our deepest sympathies family and friends /