Tesla under investigation over 'Autopilot' dangers
An NHTSA probe found that Teslas using partially automated driving functions were involved in 11 crashes since 2018.
The U.S. government has launched a formal investigation into the feature that Tesla has dubbed “Autopilot” after a series of collisions with parked emergency vehicles. Tesla’s Autopilot is actually a partially automated driving system, not a fully automated driving system as the name would suggest.
The investigation covers 765,000 vehicles, the models Y, X, S, and 3, almost every vehicle that Tesla has sold in the U.S. since the beginning of the 2014 model year. Of the crashes that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigated, 17 people were injured and one was killed.
The investigation revealed 11 crashes since 2018 in which Teslas on Autopilot or Traffic-Aware Cruise Control have hit vehicles at scenes where first responders have used flashing lights, flares, an illuminated arrow board, or cones warning that hazards are present. The accidents under investigation occurred between January 22, 2018, and July 10, 2021, took place mostly at night.
The National Transportation Safety Board has been investigating some of the Tesla crashes dating to 2016 and has recommended that the NHTSA and Tesla limit the use of Autopilot to locations where it can safely operate. The NTSB also recommended that Tesla be required to have a better system to make sure that drivers are paying attention while the Autopilot feature is on.
Autopilot has been misused by Tesla drivers, who have reportedly been caught riding while napping, driving drunk, and even riding in the back seat while the car drove itself down the road. Teslas have a safety feature to detect pressure on the steering wheel to make sure the drivers are engaged, but drivers have learned how to fool the system.
The NHTSA made a point to tell the public that no commercially available motor vehicles today are capable of driving themselves, and every available vehicle requires a human driver to be in control at all times. All state laws hold human drivers responsible for the operation of their vehicles.
Tesla previously used radar systems triggered by “false positive” signals that would stop cars after determining that overpasses were obstacles. Tesla now uses a series of cameras and thousands of images that the computer neural network uses to determine if there are objects in the way of the vehicle.
Levels of vehicle automation
There are six levels of automation as laid out by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Most of the vehicles currently dubbed “autopilot” and all other cars currently available on the market are between levels 1 and 3. However, “autopilot” suggests automation at level 5, which is not yet available. Review SAE’s levels of automation below.
0. No Automation: The driver does everything, even when there are active safety or warning systems in the vehicle.
1. Driver Assistance: Automated system can sometimes assist the driver in parts of the driving; cruise control, for example. Steering or acceleration/deceleration may be possible but not at the same time.
2. Partial Automation: Automated system can actually conduct some driving parts while humans monitor the environment and perform the rest of the driving. Here, steering and acceleration/deceleration can occur simultaneously.
3. Conditional Automation: The automated system can actually conduct some of the driving and monitor the environment in some instances, but a human must be ready to take back control when the system indicates. The driver can take their hands off of the wheel and feet off of the pedals. The vehicle can conduct all aspects of driving with the expectation that a human will respond to any request for intervention.
4. High Automation: The Automated system can drive and monitor the environment, and the human does not need to take back control, but the vehicle can operate only in certain environments and conditions. For example, vehicles can only be on autopilot within certain geofenced areas.
5. Full Automation: The automated system can perform all driving tasks under all conditions that a human could perform.
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