273 times involved in the US
Despite driver assistance, Teslas cause numerous accidents
06/15/2022, 11:29 p.m
The US Department of Transportation is investigating how many accidents involve vehicles with driver assistance turned on, and which brands are particularly affected. Tesla is clearly ahead in the ranking, but the group also provides the most vehicles. CEO Musk always promoted the system.
In the US, autopilot-controlled Teslas have been involved in 273 accidents in the past 12 months. That accounts for almost 70 percent of the 392 reported accidents involving cars with such a driver assistance system during the period, according to a report by the US traffic agency NHTSA. However, the electric car maker also has the largest fleet of vehicles with autopilot in the USA.
The NHTSA report includes accidents reported between July 2021 and mid-May 2022 involving cars with a Level 2 driver assistance system. This means that the vehicle can accelerate, brake and steer independently, but the driver must remain alert. The autopilot had to be activated in the 30 seconds before the accident.
In addition, only accidents involving a pedestrian, cyclist or motorcyclist were taken into account, or if there was a fatality or someone had to be hospitalized, or if the airbag was activated or the vehicle had to be towed away. Last summer, the NHTSA obliged car manufacturers to report such accidents. Of the 11 manufacturers listed, Honda-branded cars had 90 accidents, the second-highest reported number following Tesla.
Accidents involving Teslas with autopilot have repeatedly made headlines in the past. Just last week, the NHTSA expanded an investigation into the autopilot system of the electric car manufacturer. Tesla boss Elon Musk argues that driver assistance reduces the risk of accidents.