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Breaking News

First Reported Fatal Accident of Tesla Model S Operating in Autopilot Mode

posted by martyb on Friday July 01 2016, @01:49AM   Printer-friendly
from the Pay-attention! dept.

Two Soylentils wrote in with news of a fatal accident involving a Tesla vehicle. Please note that the feature in use, called "Autopilot" is not the same as an autonomous vehicle. It provides lane-keeping, cruise control, and safe-distance monitoring, but the driver is expected to be alert and in control at all times. -Ed.

Man Killed in Crash of 'Self-Driving' Car

butthurt writes:

Tech Insider reports that an Ohio man was killed on 7 May when his Tesla Model S, with its autopilot feature turned on, went under a tractor-trailer.

Further information:

Tesla Autopilot - Fatal Accident

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/06/30/us-regulators-investigating-tesla-over-use-of-automated-system-linked-to-fatal-crash.html

Accident is reported to have happened in May, and reported to NHTSA/DOT immediately by Tesla. But not public until the end of June -- something a bit fishy about this reporting lag.

On the other hand, the accident is described as one that might have also been difficult for an alert human to have avoided:

The May crash occurred when a tractor trailer drove across a divided highway, where a Tesla in autopilot mode was driving. The Model S passed under the tractor trailer, and the bottom of the trailer hit the Tesla vehicle's windshield.

"Neither Autopilot nor the driver noticed the white side of the tractor trailer against a brightly lit sky, so the brake was not applied," Tesla wrote.

This was the first reporting found--by the time it makes the SN front page there may be more details. Because this is a "first" it seems likely that a detailed investigation and accident reconstruction will be performed.

Original Submission #1  Original Submission #2 

 
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  • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 01 2016, @03:24AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 01 2016, @03:24AM (#368253)

    Don't think this merits "breaking news" category.

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  • (Score: 5, Funny) by Doctor on Friday July 01 2016, @03:31AM

    by Doctor (3677) on Friday July 01 2016, @03:31AM (#368254)

    More like "braking news"...

    --
    "Anybody remotely interesting is mad in some way." - The Doctor

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 01 2016, @03:36AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 01 2016, @03:36AM (#368255)

      Or lack thereof...

    • (Score: 3, Touché) by CoolHand on Friday July 01 2016, @12:04PM

      by CoolHand (438) on Friday July 01 2016, @12:04PM (#368371) Journal
      *groan*
      --
      Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job-Douglas Adams