Federal officials are investigating two fatal Tesla crashes in Florida over the space of one week. According to a Reuters news report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are sending teams to investigate the crashes.
One occurred on Feb. 24 involving a Tesla Model S, which killed the driver and caused a massive fire. The other occurred March 1 in Delray Beach when a 2018 Model 3 crashed into a semi-trailer.
Recent Tesla Crashes
The South Florida Sun Sentinel reported that the 2016 Tesla Model S caught fire and burned its 48-year-old driver beyond recognition. Even after transportation to a towing facility, the Tesla battery repeatedly caught fire. NHTSA and the NTSB have been investigating a number of crashes since 2017, focusing on two primary issues: the role of Autopilot, Tesla’s driver assistance technology, and batteries, which have reignited after vehicle crashes.
We still don’t know if Autopilot engaged in the Model 3 crash. The report said the Tesla struck a tractor-trailer and roof was sheared off as it passed underneath the trailer and stopped three-tenths of a mile south of the collision. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
Tesla advises drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel even when Autopilot is engaged and say they must be ready to take over at a moment’s notice. These are not the only incidents that are being probed. In January 2018, a Tesla vehicle on Autopilot crashed into a fire truck in Culver City. And in May 2018, a Tesla on Autopilot crashed. In May 2018, a Tesla accident in Florida killed two teens and injured another.
A Dangerous Feature
In 2017, NTSB officials said Tesla lacked “proper safeguards” and allowed the driver to “use the system outside of the environment for which it was designed. ” Autopilot also gave drivers far too much leeway and diverted their attention. Earlier this week, authorities observed a driver dozing off while operating his Tesla on Autopilot at a speed of 75 mph on a bustling Los Angeles freeway.
Our auto defect attorneys have maintained that Tesla hasn’t done enough to communicate to drivers that their semi-automated driver assist feature is not sophisticated enough for complete reliance.
Tesla should stop calling it Autopilot, as the name misleads drivers into thinking they can do other things while the car drives itself. This name encourages drivers to divert their attention from the road, a dangerous practice that puts other road users in grave danger. If you’ve been involved in a Tesla car accident that you believe was caused by a defect or dangerous design, contact a top-rated auto defect lawyer in California.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-crash/nhtsa-probing-two-fatal-tesla-crashes-in-florida-since-sunday-agency-idUSKCN1QJ0MC
