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

  • Aptiv opens autonomous mobility centre in China
    April 29, 2019
    Aptiv has unveiled a mobility centre in Shanghai, China, to develop SAE Level 4 autonomous driving technology. The company says the opening extends its autonomous driving operations beyond Singapore, Boston, Pittsburgh and Las Vegas. Last December, Aptiv opened a technical centre in Las Vegas to gather insights on its fleet of autonomous vehicles (AV) and to improve safety operator training. Aptiv is now holding discussions with potential partners for mapping and commercial deployment of its
    Read More
  • Alpha Technologies displays PowerAgent system
    September 8, 2014
    Alpha Technologies, a leading supplier of power solutions for ITS and traffic applications, is here at the ITS World Congress Detroit to introduce the PowerAgent Remote Battery Management System to provide real-time measurement and control of batteries at ITS sites.
    Read More
  • Crédit Agricole pushes payment platform at CARTES 2013
    November 19, 2013
    First-time CARTES exhibitor Crédit Agricole Cards & Payments is focusing on a strategic realignment, which opened its payment processing platform to non-subsidiary companies. The aim of the move, says the company’s Hervé Gachen, was to maximise payment volumes and so minimise costs for both subsidiary companies and other users.
    Read More
  • USDOT answers the FAQs on the Connected Vehicle Pilots Program
    September 29, 2014
    The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) has plans for multiple pilot deployments of connected vehicle technology in real-world settings throughout the country, bringing the promise of connected vehicles to some US roads even sooner. The pilots will serve as initial implementations of connected vehicle technology with the aim of delivering near-term safety, mobility, and environmental benefits. In early 2015, the USDOT will seek proposals from a wide variety of communities interested in being part of
    Read More

Highlighted Content