Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Mode Is Possible Safety Risk

By: Joshua Perry

The National Highway Traffic Safety Advisory (NHTSA) recently opened an investigation into Tesla, after four crashes occurred as a result of the vehicle using the Full Self-Driving mode. According to the probe, the crashes all occurred in low visibility situations, causing at least one fatality and one injury. Low visibility conditions are considered to be fog, sun glare, or airborne dust. 

This raises concerns about how the Full Self-Driving mode handles and interprets the roadway under low visibility conditions. This investigation could be the first step of a potential recall if the NHTSA seeks to recall the vehicles under the belief that they pose an unreasonable safety risk. 

The inquiry by the NHTSA encompasses nearly all Tesla vehicles equipped with the Full Self-Driving mode, or some 2.4 million vehicles from 2016 to 2024. According to Tesla’s website, Full Self-Driving mode is not fully automated and still requires a driver’s full attention to the roadway and control of the steering wheel. The main area of inquiry by the NHTSA is whether Full Self-Driving can detect and respond appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions.  

In December, Tesla recalled more than 2 million vehicles in the United States to install safeguards in its autopilot advanced driver-assistance system. The NHTSA is still investigating whether that recall is adequate to address concerns of drivers not paying attention to the roadway. 

One of the concerns with Tesla vehicles is the camera-only technology utilized in their driving systems. There are more expensive technologies available to sense low-visibility environments, such as lidar and radar. 

Hopefully, this investigation by the NHTSA will shed light on the inadequacy of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system in low visibility conditions and ensure that there are mechanisms in place to prevent future injuries.

If you or a family member is injured in an incident involving a Tesla, give O’Donnell Law Offices a call and allow us to evaluate your claim. We can help you navigate through the various avenues of recovery for injuries as well as help you understand what your legal rights are in obtaining that recovery.

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