It is a document that could be a bombshell. As reported by Futurism, a report by the US federal agency in charge of road safety, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), could undermine Tesla’s Autopilot system. Involved in numerous accidents since its inception, the autonomous piloting system has always slipped through the cracks. But this report highlights sixteen accidents, all distinct. Each time, the Tesla cars rammed people stopped in the emergency lane or other emergency vehicles.
In all these cases, the report points the finger at the Autopilot, which reportedly “interrupted the control of the vehicle less than one second before the impact” of the accident. This would call into question the authorization to operate Tesla cars equipped with Autopilot, contrary to what Elon Musk claims. Until now, Tesla has always avoided legal issues, arguing that drivers were misusing the system. The technology is reportedly not in question.