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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
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 Motors blog
- NHTSA report
- video uploaded by the victim, demonstrating use of the autopilot feature
Tesla Autopilot - Fatal Accident
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.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by SpockLogic on Friday July 01 2016, @12:48PM
In Europe semi-trailers have substantial rear and side underride guards. This substantially reduces the decapitation of sedans in a wreck allowing crumple zones to work.
The National Transportation Safety Board has recommended that side underride guards be required on trailers with GVW ratings above 10,000 pounds. The trucking industry has resisted.
I'm not saying that side underride guards would have prevented this fatality but shouldn't we have them.
Overreacting is one thing, sticking your head up your ass hoping the problem goes away is another - edIII
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 01 2016, @01:37PM
Let me rebut:
1) Moneyz
2) Moneyz means JOBZ
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 01 2016, @06:29PM
1) It doesn't cost that much.
2) It quickly pays for itself in improved efficiency at highway speeds.
A skirt under the trailer is one of the 1st things they do in making a big rig more aerodynamic. [google.com]
-- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by timbim on Friday July 01 2016, @09:59PM
tractor trailer shouldn't even been on the same roads as passenger cars. They should have dedicated and isolated lanes driven autonomously.