Tesla's Autopilot system, which, contrary to its name does not allow the car to drive itself, has been involved in yet another accident. A 2019 Tesla Model 3 with Autopilot activated was involved in an accident that resulted in it colliding into two parked cars along a highway close to Orlando, Florida.
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The Associated Press reported that a Model 3 driver aged 27 crashed into a parked Florida Highway Patrol vehicle on Saturday morning. When the Model 3 crashed into the cruiser, the highway patrol officer was helping another driver with their car. The Model 3 barely missed the highway patrol officer who had just gotten out of his car. The Model 3 collided with the other parked car.
The crash resulted in no deaths. Minor injuries were sustained by the Model 3 driver, aged 27, and the driver of another car that was receiving assistance. According to the AP, the highway patrol officer did not suffer any injuries.
Officials continue to investigate the cause of the accident. CNBC reports that it is not known if Tesla's Autopilot contributed to or caused the accident.
Gizmodo reached Tesla for comment on Saturday, but didn't receive any response at the time of publication. It is unlikely that Tesla will respond to Gizmodo's request for comment, given the fact that it disbanded its public affairs team last year. However, we will update this blog in case they do.
Nearly two weeks ago, Teslas Autopilot was involved in another crash. This happened just after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched an investigation into the company's assisted driving system. It will specifically focus on 11 incidents in which Teslas with Autopilot and cruise control were involved in crashes into emergency vehicles. One person was killed and 17 were injured in the incidents.
NHTSA will investigate Tesla cars produced between 2014 and 2021. This includes the Model Y, Model X and Model S. The total number of Tesla vehicles is approximately 756,000.
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While the agency focuses on crashes involving emergency vehicles only, Tesla's Autopilot system has been implicated in many incidents where drivers have not been paying attention to the car. Drivers have been caught drunken and asleep behind the wheel. Some drivers have also crashed due to their smartphones.
Tesla could have another agency's attention in the future, aside from the NHTSA. Democratic Sens. was formed shortly after the NHTSA announced its investigation. Richard Blumenthal, Ed Markey and Lina Khan asked the Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Lina Kan to investigate the company's misleading and unjustified marketing and advertising practices in relation to its driving automation systems.
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The senators correctly pointed out in their letter that Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features can only be partially automated, and that no vehicle on the market is capable of driving itself.
These limitations are important because if drivers' expectations exceed their vehicle's capabilities, it can lead to serious and fatal accidents, Blumenthal and Markey said.
