Last Sunday, the electric crossover Model X, which was under the control of the autopilot, collided with wooden barriers on the road. The vehicle received significant damage, but the driver was not injured. The car owner placed responsibility for the incident on the autonomous control system.
Tesla confirmed that at the time of the accident, the autopilot function was indeed engaged. At the same time, the company noted that the movement was taking place on a winding mountain road in conditions of no road markings, which significantly complicated the task for the electronics. A company representative stated that in such circumstances, the driver is obliged to take control themselves, but the car owner neglected these requirements. The system repeatedly signaled the need to take over the steering wheel.
“According to our data, the driver's hands were not on the steering wheel, and the sensors did not record any force on it even after warnings about violating the regulations. We strongly advise against using this system at high speeds and on sections without markings,” the Tesla representative's words are quoted in the company's press release.
Earlier, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration initiated an investigation after another incident in which a Tesla driver died while driving the car in autopilot mode. This is reported by Reuters with reference to the official statement of the agency. The tragedy occurred on May 7 in the city of Williston (Florida), when a truck made a left turn in front of an oncoming electric vehicle at an intersection.
