Tesla reports fatal accident in California involving Model S with autopilot on
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has requested further information from the manufacturer following an accident in February 2023 involving a Tesla Model S electric car. Elon Musk's company responded to the regulator's request with a delay.
Here's What We Know
A 2014 Tesla Model S collided with an ambulance in February. The fatal accident occurred in Contra Costa County, California. The company has confirmed that the electric car was being driven by the Autopilot driver assistance system at the time of the accident. The speed of the Tesla Model S immediately before impact was 114km/h, which was 9km/h over the posted limit.
Slow down and move over when approaching emergency vehicles. Truck 1 was struck by a Tesla while blocking I-680 lanes from a previous accident. Driver pronounced dead on-scene; passenger was extricated & transported to hospital. Four firefighters also transported for evaluation. pic.twitter.com/YCGn8We1bK
- Con Fire PIO (@ContraCostaFire) February 18, 2023
Since the summer of 2021, NHTSA has been collecting information on accidents involving vehicles with active autonomous driving systems. After Tesla's announcement, the number of accidents involving autopilot has risen to 66. American activists are demanding that the authorities tighten regulations for driver assistance systems.
Source: Drive Tesla Canada
