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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 19 OctOber 2022
11 more crash deaths are linked to automated-tech vehicles

By TOM KRISHER the database says that ad-
AP Auto Writer vanced driver assist systems
DETROIT (AP) — Eleven ad- were in use at the time of
ditional people were killed the crash.
in U.S. crashes involving Michael Brooks, executive
vehicles that were using director of the nonprofit
automated driving systems Center for Auto Safety, said
during a four-month pe- he is baffled by NHTSA’s
riod earlier this year, ac- continued investigations
cording to newly released and by what he called
government data, part of a general lack of action
an alarming pattern of inci- since problems with Auto-
dents linked to the technol- pilot began surfacing back
ogy. in 2016.
Ten of the deaths involved “I think there’s a pretty
vehicles made by Tesla, clear pattern of bad be-
though it is unclear from havior on the part of Tesla
the National Highway Traf- when it comes to obeying
fic Safety Administration’s the edicts of the (federal)
data whether the technol- safety act, and NHTSA is
ogy itself was at fault or just sitting there,” he said.
whether driver error might “How many more deaths Cars wait at a red light during rush hour on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, April 22, 2021.
have been responsible. The do we need to see of mo- Associated Press
11th death involved a Ford torcyclists?”
pickup truck. Brooks noted that the Tes- ommended that NHTSA drivers are paying atten- (The NTSB can make only
The deaths included four la crashes are victimizing require Tesla to improve tion. NHTSA has yet to act recommendations to other
crashes involving motorcy- more people who are not its systems to ensure that on the recommendations. federal agencies.)q
cles that occurred during in the Tesla vehicles.
the spring and summer: Two “You’re seeing innocent
in Florida and one each in people who had no choice
California and Utah. Safety in the matter being killed or
advocates note that the injured,” he said.
deaths of motorcyclists in A message was left Tues-
crashes involving Tesla ve- day seeking a response
hicles using automated from NHTSA.
driver-assist systems such Tesla’s crash number may
as Autopilot have been in- appear elevated because
creasing. it uses telematics to moni-
The new fatal crashes are tor its vehicles and obtain
documented in a data- real-time crash reports.
base that NHTSA is building Other automakers lack
in an effort to broadly as- such capability, so their
sess the safety of automat- crash reports may emerge
ed driving systems, which, more slowly or may not
led by Tesla, have been be reported at all, NHTSA
growing in use. Tesla alone has said. In documents,
has more than 830,000 ve- the agency raised ques-
hicles on U.S. roads with tions about the system,
the systems. The agency finding that the technol-
is requiring auto and tech ogy was being used in ar-
companies to report all eas where its capabilities
crashes involving self-driv- are limited and that many
ing vehicles as well as au- drivers weren’t taking steps
tos with driver assist systems to avoid crashes despite
that can take over some warnings from the vehicle.
driving tasks from people. NHTSA also reported that
The 11 new fatal crashes, it has documented 16
reported from mid-May crashes in which vehicles
through September, were with automated systems
included in statistics that in use hit emergency ve-
the agency released Mon- hicles and trucks that were
day. In June, the agency displaying warning signs,
released data it had col- causing 15 injuries and one
lected from July of last year death.
through May 15. The National Transporta-
The figures that were re- tion Safety Board, which
leased in June showed that also has investigated some
six people died in crashes of the Tesla crashes dat-
involving the automated ing to 2016, has recom-
systems, and five were se- mended that NHTSA and
riously hurt. Of the deaths, Tesla limit Autopilot’s use to
five occurred in Teslas and areas where it can safely
one a Ford. In each case, operate. The NTSB also rec-