Surveillance footage obtained by The Intercept shows a Tesla Model S driving through a tunnel in San Francisco before coming to a sharp stop. The sudden stop caused a massive traffic jam and left nine people injured, including a two-year-old, according to California Highway Police.
The driver claims that the “fully self-driving” system was activated and the car stopped on its own.
The “fully autonomous” system is designed to allow the car to operate automatically but requires the driver to remain attentive.
Tesla says internal studies show the technology is safe and also avoids accidents, while road security experts have questioned Tesla’s findings.
For its part, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is already investigating automatic driving and “total self-driving” systems following reports of unexpected brake action in Tesla cars.