A devastating crash in Texas has left one woman dead after a Tesla Model 3 driver claimed his car was 'self-driving' at the time of impact. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a formal investigation into the incident, which occurred on 19 June when a man driving the vehicle veered off the road and struck a home at high speed.
According to local police reports, the driver failed to maintain a single lane and hit the brick residence around 8pm local time. The woman who was inside the property sustained severe injuries and died as a result of her injuries. Police confirmed that the driver was not intoxicated but claimed his Tesla's 'automated driving assistance system' was engaged at the time of the collision.
A spokesperson for the NHTSA has confirmed the launch of a 'special crash investigation', which is the most in-depth inquiry the agency conducts into emerging vehicle technologies. These investigations are designed to gather data on crashes involving new automotive innovations, with the aim of enhancing safety performance and preventing similar incidents in the future.
Tesla markets its automated driving technology as 'full self-driving (assisted)', but this claim has faced scrutiny from US senators who have questioned the accuracy of the company's data analysis. The NHTSA investigation into the Texas crash is the latest development in ongoing discussions about the safety and regulation of advanced driver-assistance systems.
The incident highlights concerns about the use of 'self-driving' technology on public roads, particularly when companies like Tesla, Google's Waymo, and Uber continue to develop vehicles with varying degrees of autonomous capability. The investigation into this crash will be closely watched as regulators seek to understand the real-world performance and potential risks associated with these emerging technologies.