The Tesla Model S cruising on “Autopilot” failed to pick up a crossing tractor-trailer against a bright sky, sending the driver to his death without any effort to hit the brakes.
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It says that Tesla drivers are warned to stay alert and keep their hands on the steering wheel because the technology does not provide fully autonomous driving.
Laura MacCleery, the vice president of consumer policy and mobilization for the magazine, acknowledges the potential of self-driving systems to contribute to road safety.
Consumer Reports urged Tesla Motors to deactivate its partial self-driving system, which it calls as autopilot in view of the fatal accident, reports USA Today.
“I request that you direct company representatives to brief committee staff on the details of this incident, including the technology that was in use at the time, Tesla’s actions in response, and the company’s cooperation with NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), by no later than July 29”, Thune wrote in the letter.
The NHTSA told Reuters it also was investigation a recent Pennsylvania crash in which a Tesla driver, Albert Scaglione of Farmington Hills, Michigan, was charged with careless driving. OH resident Joshua Brown, 40, enabled the Autopilot mode of his Model S and subsequently collided with a tractor that was in front of him as it was making a left turn. The impact caused the Model S to pass under the trailer, with the bottom of the trailer impacting the windshield of the Model S. Tesla, which gets information from its cars over the internet, said the vehicle warned the driver at least once to place his hands on the steering wheel before it crashed.
While investigations are still ongoing, questions remain as to whether the technology worked as it was meant to, and the accident and fatality of the driver, a former Navy SEAL, could have been avoided, according to Thune. However, Tesla spokeswoman said she had not seen the letter and did not give an immediate comment.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that NHTSA is investigating another, non-fatal Tesla crash in Pennsylvania, though Musk said on Twitter last night that “Onboard vehicle logs show Autopilot was turned off in Pennsylvania crash. Moreover, crash would not have occurred if it was on”, Musk wrote.
“While we appreciate well-meaning advice from any individual or group, we make our decision on the basis of real-world data, not speculation by the media”, a spokesman for the company said.
Tesla has also recently gained European approval for its Autopilot system in the Netherlands, with authorities saying “no safety concerns” were found.
Tesla said Autopilot underwent millions of miles of internal testing and is updated constantly.
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The not-for-profit, which has owned and tested three Teslas, condemned the lack of warning given to drivers when the autopilot mode switches over to manual control.
