Tesla car crash in California kills driver while running on autopilot

A Tesla vehicle driving in autopilot mode crashed into a roadside barrier and caught fire in a test carried out in California – according to a report by the BBC.
April 3, 2018 Read time: 2 mins

The driver of the Model X car died soon after the incident which occurred on the 23 March 2018.

In a statement, the company confirmed that autopilot was engaged with the adaptive cruise control follow-distance set to minimum. Several visual and one audible hands-on warning were sent to the driver whose hands were not detected on the steering wheel six seconds prior to the collision.

“The driver had about five seconds and 150 metres of unobstructed view of the concrete divider with the crushed crash attenuator, but the vehicle logs show that no action was taken,” the statement added.

The severity of the crash is believed to have been the result of the crash attenuator’s state at the time of the accident. The highway safety barrier, which aims to reduce the impact into a concrete lane divider, had not been replaced since being crushed in a previous accident.

Tesla’s autopilot system is said to carry out some of the functions of a fully autonomous machine such as braking, accelerating and steering under certain conditions, but operates as a driver assistance system. The company highlighted that it is not intended to work independently and that motorists are required to have their hands on the wheel at all times.

 

Urban Traffic Control

Related Content

  • Q-Free reinforces ITS capabilities, expertise at World Congress
    September 25, 2012
    Q-Free intends to use its appearance at the ITS World Congress to reflect a broader and more accurate reality of the company’s strength and capabilities. That’s not going to be difficult, if one considers the technological and geographical diversity of the company’s success since the beginning of this year alone. In March, Q-Free was awarded the contract for delivery of the congestion charging infrastructure for the Swedish city of Gothenburg which includes road side equipment, infrastructure and service an
    Read More
  • MEPs: action needed to reduce transport emissions for Paris Agreement
    December 18, 2017
    MEPs have called for the full application of existing rules and for the Commission to introduce new measures to reduce transport emissions and meet the Paris Agreement commitments, in a new resolution. It has also requested for them to set new carbon dioxide (CO2) standards for car fleets from 2025 onward, with the intention of phasing out new models of these vehicles.
    Read More
  • Autonomous shuttle passenger injured following sudden stop
    August 6, 2019
    A 76-year-old passenger travelling on an autonomous shuttle has been injured after the vehicle came to an unexpected stop, says KUTV. Gene Petrie, an employee at the Utah State Tax Commission, was thrown from his seat and hit the handrail near the door, resulting in bruising and black eyes. Charlie Roberts, spokesman for the Utah State Tax Commission, is quoted saying: “Out of the clear blue, it suddenly stopped, and it wasn’t a slow-down stop. It was a sudden stop.” Petrie went to the hospital f
    Read More
  • ITS America Annual Meeting Call for Papers Extended to 15 March
    February 28, 2018
    ITS America has extended its deadline for papers and session submissions to 15 March for the 2018 annual meeting in Detroit. It is seeking high-quality papers for the technical programme to narrate the Transportation 2.0 theme. Submissions should be related to Connectivity, Autonomy and the Future of Transportation; Cybersecurity and Privacy Opportunities and Challenges and; Electrification and Infrastructure. They can also be based on Regulatory and Financial Challenges Related to Deployment of ITS Tech
    Read More

Highlighted Content