No recall after fatal Tesla autopilot crash

US safety regulators have closed an investigation into a fatal crash involving electric car maker Tesla Motors' Autopilot system without seeking a recall.

No recall after fatal Tesla autopilot crash

US safety regulators have closed an investigation into a fatal crash involving electric car maker Tesla Motors' Autopilot system without seeking a recall.

But they criticised the way the company markets the semi-autonomous driving feature.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that the system had no safety defects at the time of the May 7 crash in Florida, and that it was primarily designed to prevent rear-end collisions, spokesman Bryan Thomas said.

Investigators also reviewed a crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in which two people were injured, as well as dozens of other crashes involving Autopilot in which air bags were deployed, Mr Thomas said.

Tesla will not be fined but the agency criticised the firm for calling the system Autopilot.

The probe began on June 28, nearly two months after a driver using Autopilot in a Tesla Model S died when it failed to spot a tractor-trailer crossing the car's path on a highway in Williston, Florida, near Gainesville.

Tesla's Autopilot system uses cameras, radar and computers to detect objects and automatically brake if the car is about to hit something.

It can also steer the car to keep it centred in its lane.

The company said that before Autopilot can be used, drivers must acknowledge that it is an "assist feature" that requires both hands on the wheel at all times.

Drivers must also be prepared to take over at any time, Tesla has said.

The lack of a recall is good news for Tesla because the agency is either blaming the crash on human error or it does not see the recall as necessary because Tesla software updates have already addressed the problem, said Karl Brauer, executive publisher of Kelley Blue Book.

"Either one reflects well on Tesla," he said.

But the agency's findings are likely to influence how carmakers market semi-autonomous systems.

Just about every car company has or is working on similar systems as they move towards self-driving cars.

The May 7 crash killed former Navy Seal Joshua Brown, 40, of Canton, Ohio.

Tesla, which collects data from its cars via the internet, said at the time that the cameras on Mr Brown's Model S vehicle failed to distinguish the white side of a turning tractor-trailer from a brightly lit sky and that neither the car nor Mr Brown applied the brakes.

Scenarios in which another vehicle crossed its path were beyond the capabilities of the system, Mr Thomas said.

The closure of the investigation without a recall "helps clarify that cars are still supposed to be driven by attentive people, and if people behind the wheel aren't attentive, it's not the technology's fault", Mr Brauer said.

That will help avoid the stigma that the technology causes accidents, he said.

Mr Thomas highlighted two conclusions from the investigation.

First, that advanced automated driving systems still require "continual and full attention of a driver" who should be prepared to take action.

And second, that manufacturers need to pay attention to how drivers actually use the technology, not just how they are supposed to use it, and to design their vehicles "with the inattentive driver in mind".

Tesla said in a statement that it appreciated the NHTSA's thoroughness in reaching its conclusion.

In July, investigators asked Tesla for information on how Autopilot works at intersections with crossing traffic.

They also asked Tesla to describe how the system detects "compromised or degraded" signals from cameras and other sensors and how such problems are communicated to drivers.

When Tesla released Autopilot in the autumn of 2015, some safety advocates questioned whether the company, based in Palo Alto, California, and the NHTSA allowed the public access to the system before testing was finished.

The company acknowledged "beta testing" the system on cars driving on public roads.

Consumer Reports magazine called on Tesla to drop the Autopilot name because it can give drivers too much trust in their car's ability to drive itself.

The influential magazine urged Tesla to disconnect the automatic steering system until it is updated to make sure a driver's hands stay on the wheel at all times.

In September, Tesla updated Autopilot software to rely more on radar sensors and less on cameras.

The update also disabled the automatic steering if drivers do not keep both hands on the wheel.

- AP

more courts articles

Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman
Coronation Street actor William Roache (91) given three months to settle tax debt Coronation Street actor William Roache (91) given three months to settle tax debt

More in this section

Nottingham City Centre Stock Irish staff at the Body Shop wait for wages as retailer shuts stores in the Republic
Ryanair comments on Norwegian Ryanair boss O'Leary's spat with Transport Minister over Dublin Airport escalates
Lord Rothschild death Tony Blair leads tributes on death of financier Rothschild at age 87
IE logo
Devices


UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE IRISH EXAMINER FOR TEAMS AND ORGANISATIONS
FIND OUT MORE

The Business Hub
Newsletter

News and analysis on business, money and jobs from Munster and beyond by our expert team of business writers.

Sign up
ie logo
Puzzles Logo

Play digital puzzles like crosswords, sudoku and a variety of word games including the popular Word Wheel

Lunchtime News
Newsletter

Keep up with the stories of the day with our lunchtime news wrap.

Sign up
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited