Tesla Autopilot Feature (Photo : Facebook)
A fatal car crash that involved a Tesla Model S in Autopilot mode has put pressure on automakers and regulators to make sure that self-driving technology is as safe as possible. The auto accident took place in Florida during May and is reportedly the first of its kind. The United States government might delay plans to outline guidelines for autonomous vehicles (AVs) this month for automated driving technology involving functions such as braking and steering.
Federal and state authorities are still investigating the Model S accident. They are researching whether the driver Joshua Brown was distracted before the 2015 Model S drove under a semi truck trailer.
Tesla and Mobileye stocks dropped in after-hours trading on July 30, Thursday following reports about the investigation of the fatal crash. Mobileye is an Israeli tech company that supplies some components for Tesla's Autopilot feature.
However, the two companies' stock prices bounced back the next day. Financial experts stated that the accident was probably a short-term issue.
In addition, supporters of autonomous driving tech point out that studies show 90 percent of auto accidents result from human errors. Robotic cars could help to lower that figure.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported on July 1, Friday that traffic deaths increased by 7.7 percent to 35,000 during 2015, according to Hindustan Times. That is the highest yearly figure since 2008, and the biggest one-year jump since 1966.
US regulators and auto industry executives claim that the death toll could be cut by autonomous car tech. It uses tools including cameras and sensors to detect an imminent crash and then take actions such as hitting the brakes.
Jason Corso is an associate professor of electrical engineering at the University of Michigan. He pointed out that Tesla's Autopilot system is a beta product and that the recent accident shows such technology needs more tests.
In related news, Brown posted a video titled "Autopilot Saves Model S" on April 5. This clip shows a bucket truck that cuts in front of the Model S, while the written description notes that the Model S' Autopilot mode alerted the driver to take control of the steering wheel, according to ABC. The video has over 1.7 million views.
Here's a Tesla Autopilot Summons feature:
