Tesla Model Y pedestrian fatality crash probed for FSD performance in low visibility conditions by NHTSA
After closing one Autopilot investigation by basically just slapping Tesla on the wrist, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a new probe, this time for the driver-assist FSD feature's performance when visibility is low.
The move potentially affects 2.41 million Tesla vehicles, namely the 2016-2024 Model S and X, 2017-2024 Model 3, 2020-2024 Model Y, and the 2023-2024 Cybertruck equipped with FSD.
The NHTSA describes the probe as stemming from a "failure of the system engineering controls to react appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions."
As concrete examples, it gives four accidents resulting in a crash where either Tesla's FSD Beta or the newly rechristened FSD (Supervised) were active at the moment of collision.
One of those accidents happened when a Tesla Model Y struck and killed a pedestrian, while another one resulted in an injury, lists the NHTSA:
- November 2023 Rimrock, Arizona: Model Y crash involving pedestrian fatality
- January 2024 Nipton, California: Model 3 crash with other passenger car
- March 2024 Red Mills, Virginia: Model 3 crash with other passenger car
- May 2024: Collinsville, Ohio Model 3 crash involving minor injury
The common denominator among all those Tesla vehicle crashes while on FSD was the low visibility, whether it was caused by dense fog, sunshine glare, or simply "airborne dust."
The NHTSA wants to investigate whether Tesla's FSD is capable enough to be at full capacity in such conditions, and whether Tesla has issued any updates that affect its operation when visibility is decreased.
"In particular, this review will assess the timing, purpose, and capabilities of any such updates, as well as Tesla’s assessment of their safety impact," tips the federal road safety agency.
The probe doesn't come at a very opportune time for Tesla, as it is fresh out of a driverless Robotaxi announcement, for which it will need all the state and federal regulatory help it can attract in order to make it roadworthy.
Elon Musk went as far as saying that Tesla will release unsupervised FSD for its bestselling vehicles like the Model Y, Model 3, or the Cybertruck, as soon as next year, albeit georestricted to Texas and California.
Federal FSD safety investigations like this aren't going to advance its cause, as Tesla needs all the goodwill and positive intervention statistics it can muster in order to get the Robotaxi and its Cybercab ride-share service approved by regulators.
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