Tesla is known for its innovative and futuristic vehicles, but a recent study has sparked a debate about the safety of its driver assistance features. The study, conducted by LendingTree, analyzed tens of millions of insurance quotes between November 2022 and November 2023. The results placed Tesla drivers at the top of the most-accident-prone list, with 24 accidents per 1,000 drivers during this period.
However, the study does not reveal the exact details of the crashes, such as whether the drivers were using Tesla’s Autopilot or Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, which are supposed to enhance the safety and convenience of driving.
Tesla has been pushing ahead with the development and deployment of its driver assistance features, despite some regulatory hurdles and public scrutiny. The company claims that its vehicles are safer than human drivers. However, new data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that Tesla’s Autosteer feature, which is part of Autopilot and FSD, had safety defects that may cause an “increased risk of a collision.”
Tesla has agreed to conduct a voluntary software recall and make safety improvements to its Autosteer feature following findings by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that the feature posed a safety risk. Tesla did not agree with the NHTSA’s findings but will update the software with “over-the-air” updates, which will prompt drivers to pay more attention to the road and prevent irresponsible use of Autopilot.
While the recent study raises concerns about the safety of Tesla vehicles, it’s important to remember that the data does not capture the full picture of the crashes. In some incidents, it is unknown whether the drivers had the Autopilot or FSD on, or whether they were paying attention to the road. Moreover, the data does not indicate how many accidents Tesla’s driver assistance features may have prevented or mitigated.
However, Tesla did not respond to a request for comment about a recent study by Lending Tree which found that Tesla drivers had one of the highest accident rates in the US over the past year.
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