Third known incident involving Tesla's autonomous driving function occurs in California; driver and passenger unharmed.
14 Jul 2016 | 3833 Views | By Doug Revolta, Autocar UK
A Tesla Model X using the manufacturer’s Autopilot system was involved in a crash in the US on Sunday.
The driver and passenger were unharmed, and Tesla suggested the system was not being used properly.
Data shows that Autosteer was used on an undivided mountain road, and the driver’s hands were off the steering wheel when the electric SUV swerved and hit a post next to the road in Montana, California.
Tesla’s terms of use recommends keeping hands on the steering wheel at all times when Autosteer is used, and the manufacturer has advised against using it at high speeds on undivided roads.
It is the third known crash involving Tesla’s autonomous driving function, one of which resulted in a fatality when a Model S collided with a truck’s trailer in its path.
The other incident resulted in a Model X hitting a guard rail on a highway in Pennsylvania before flipping onto its roof. The driver and passenger were both injured, but police later charged the driver with careless driving. It is not yet clear how, or if, Autopilot was involved.
There have so far been no reported incidents in the UK involving Autopilot, and Tesla boss Elon Musk has said the company will continue with its autonomous plans.
Other companies' autonomous system developments are gathering pace. Nissan has launched its Propilot system in a Japanese model. Jaguar Land Rover has also unveiled its autonomous ambitions for the future, pledging to test 100 self-driving models on road in England over the next four years.