US Auto Safety Agency to Investigate Fatal Tesla Crash in California

Autopilot had been engaged in at least three Tesla vehicles that were involved in fatal US crashes since 2016.

By Reuters | Updated: 1 January 2020 11:04 IST

US Auto Safety Agency to Investigate Fatal Tesla Crash in California

Tesla has advised drivers that they must keep their hands on the steering wheel while using Autopilot

Highlights

Two people were killed in the crash
Crash may be tied to advanced Autopilot driver assistance system
NHTSA did not say if autopilot was suspected in the crash

The fatal December 29 crash of a Tesla vehicle in Southern California will be investigated by the US government's auto safety regulator, the agency said on Tuesday. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said earlier this month it had opened an investigation into a 12th Tesla crash that may be tied to the vehicle's advanced Autopilot driver assistance system after a Tesla Model 3 rear-ended a parked police car in Connecticut.

NHTSA did not say if autopilot was suspected in Sunday's crash in Gardena in Los Angeles county.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Los Angeles television station KTLA reported the driver exited the 91 Freeway in Gardena, ran a red light and struck a 2006 Honda Civic, killing its two occupants.

The two people inside the Tesla were hospitalised but did not have life-threatening injuries, KTLA reported, citing Los Angeles police.

Autopilot had been engaged in at least three Tesla vehicles that were involved in fatal US crashes since 2016. The National Transportation Safety Board has criticised Autopilot's lack of safeguards and said in September in its probe of a 2018 Culver City, California Tesla crash that the system's design "permitted the driver to disengage from the driving task."

Tesla and NHTSA both advise drivers that they must keep their hands on the steering wheel and pay attention at all times while using Autopilot. Tesla says Autopilot "enables your car to steer, accelerate and brake automatically within its lane," but does not make the vehicle autonomous.

Some drivers say they are able to keep their hands off the wheel for extended periods when using the system. Last month, US Senator Ed Markey said Tesla should disable Autopilot until it installs new safeguards to prevent drivers from evading system limits that could let them fall asleep.

NHTSA has previously confirmed special crash investigations in a number of Tesla crashes but until earlier this month had not disclosed the total number of crashes under review. NHTSA previously investigated another Tesla crash that it initially suspected of being tied to Autopilot but ruled it out.

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