Controversial driving assistant
After fatal accident with Tesla autopilot – first manslaughter charge brought
The autopilot function in a Tesla model
© ANP | “Laurens van Putten” / Picture Alliance
For the first time in the United States, a Tesla driver faces a manslaughter charge. With the autopilot activated, his vehicle had caused an accident with two fatalities. The US authorities have been dealing with incidents involving the automated driving assistant for several years.
Kevin George Aziz Riad drove his Tesla Model S off a Los Angeles freeway at high speed in December 2019 when he left the controls of his vehicle to Autopilot. However, he ignored a red traffic light and subsequently caused the collision with another car. Two occupants of the car were killed in the accident. Riyadh and a passenger in his Tesla were injured but survived. Now the 27-year-old has to answer in court for two counts of manslaughter.
The Californian prosecutor’s office in Los Angeles had already filed charges last October, but they only became known last week. Riyadh has pleaded not guilty and is due to be questioned about the incident on February 23. Until the case is resolved, he is free on bail.
Repeats serious accidents with Tesla Autopilot in the USA
Riyadh is the first Tesla driver to stand trial in an accident involving an activated autopilot. However, there have been numerous misuses of the autopilot. The topic is therefore the subject of investigations by two federal authorities, the Tesla autopilot is controversial.
In 2016, a Tesla crashed under the trailer of a semi truck that was crossing the street. The driver died. The US Transportation Safety Administration NHTSA examined Tesla’s automated driving assistant and found that the system worked correctly within its capabilities. Nevertheless, the person at the wheel relied too much on it. The autopilot had not recognized the trailer with its white side panel and had not braked. The driver didn’t respond either. In this and all rear-end collisions, the fire and ambulance vehicles were clearly recognizable thanks to the flashing lights being switched on, criticized the NHTSA. In any case, the Tesla autopilot was switched on.
In 2018 there was an incident without a casualty: A Tesla collided with a fire truck in California. Other accidents with activated autopilots in Tesla vehicles have involved collisions with a guardrail or a truck. In April 2021, a serious accident in Texas caused a sensation in which a Tesla caught fire after hitting a tree and finally burned out. Both occupants were killed. Initially, it was assumed that the Tesla had been driving without a driver, which fueled criticism of the Tesla autopilot. However, it later turns out that the driver was behind the wheel during the accident.
US automaker refers to human intervention
The well-known investigative authority NTSB had generally criticized the fact that the person at the wheel could rely too much on the technology in an accident with the autopilot switched on. When autopilot accidents started, Tesla tightened its software. The software notices when the driver’s hands are off the wheel; after a short time warning tones sound. The US automaker also tried to improve its automated driving assistant in the function of recognizing vehicles. Tesla emphasizes that the autopilot is only an assistance system and the driver must always keep their hands on the steering wheel and the traffic situation in view. Critics are calling for Tesla to take tougher measures against violating this requirement – such as monitoring the driver with a camera.
NHTSA most recently investigated eleven incidents in which Teslas hit parked emergency vehicles between January 2018 and July 2021. At least 17 were injured and one dead. Since 2016, NHTSA has sent investigation teams into 26 autopilot crashes that have resulted in a total of 11 fatalities. It is estimated that 765,000 Teslas in the US are equipped with Autopilot.
Sources: washington post, with material from the dpa