Sign up for our popular daily email to catch all the latest EV news!
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a Preliminary Evaluation into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system following four crash reports involving Tesla vehicles in conditions of reduced visibility. These crashes occurred with FSD engaged in environments affected by sun glare, fog, or airborne dust. One incident resulted in a fatal pedestrian collision, while another led to injuries. The investigation aims to assess FSD’s ability to detect and respond in these challenging conditions.
Key Highlights:
- NHTSA is evaluating Tesla’s FSD system due to crashes in reduced visibility.
- Four crashes occurred in conditions like sun glare, fog, or airborne dust.
- Incidents involved Tesla models from 2016-2024, including the Model S, Model X, Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck.
- The investigation will examine FSD’s performance in low visibility and any updates from Tesla regarding system improvements.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) identified the crash reports through its Standing General Order (SGO) reports. These crashes occurred in Tesla vehicles using either FSD-Beta or FSD-Supervised modes. One of the crashes led to a fatal pedestrian collision, while another caused injuries. The reduced roadway visibility in these incidents was attributed to factors such as sun glare, fog, or airborne dust.
The Preliminary Evaluation focuses on assessing the effectiveness of Tesla’s FSD system under adverse visibility conditions. Specifically, it aims to determine if the FSD’s engineering controls are adequate in detecting and responding appropriately to such conditions. Additionally, it will investigate whether other crashes have occurred under similar circumstances and identify contributing factors.
The evaluation will also review any updates or modifications made by Tesla to the FSD system that could influence its performance in low-visibility environments. The investigation will focus on the timing, purpose, and functionality of these updates and Tesla’s assessment of their impact on safety.
The investigation involves the following Tesla models: Model S and X (Model Year 2016-2024), Model 3 (2017-2024), Model Y (2020-2024), and Cybertruck (2023-2024). The four SGO crash report numbers are 13781-8004, 13781-7181, 13781-7381, and 13781-7767.
For further details on the crash reports, visit NHTSA.gov.
Sign up for our popular daily email to catch all the latest EV news!
