Tesla in self-driving mode crashes into police car in California
A Tesla vehicle, reportedly operating in self-driving mode, collided with a stationary police car in Fullerton, California. The incident occurred shortly after midnight on Thursday, while an officer was managing traffic at the site of another accident. The Fullerton Police Department confirmed that warning flares were deployed and the patrol car's emergency lights were activated. The officer, standing by his patrol vehicle, managed to avoid a potentially fatal accident by leaping out of the way as the Tesla approached.
Driver admitted phone use during crash
The driver of the Tesla admitted to having been using his phone, and the vehicle was in self-driving mode at the time of the crash. However, it remains unclear whether the car was in Autopilot or Full Self-Driving mode during the incident. There is a chance the driver might be lying, shifting blame to controversial technology to evade responsibility. Confirmation awaits authorities reviewing Tesla's automatic crash report. Despite this, no serious injuries were reported.
Self-driving technology under scrutiny
The incident underscores the ongoing debate about the safety and reliability of Tesla's self-driving features. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had previously investigated Tesla in 2021, following several incidents involving its cars colliding with emergency vehicles while in self-driving modes. The probe led to Tesla being mandated to issue software updates to two million cars. However, doubts persist about the effectiveness of these measures.
Tesla's terminology and safety concerns
Tesla's self-driving features have been linked to numerous accidents, and have been criticized for potentially endangering occupants and other road users. The company has faced criticism over its use of terms like "Autopilot" and "Full-Self-Driving," which some argue could mislead drivers into believing their cars are fully autonomous. This has drawn attention from federal agencies such as NHTSA and state regulators who are concerned about potential driver complacency. Tesla has yet to comment on the latest incident.
