Tesla Autopilot provides a range of features that the company says helps prevent accidents caused by driver negligence and fatigue. It includes cruise control, lane centring and changes, and parking. Media reports of fatal accidents associated with drivers handing full control over to Tesla Autopilot has prompted the company to emphasise that the driver must remain in control of the car while it is operating in Autopilot mode.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has carried out a number of investigations into crashes on Autopilot since 2018. Last month, a Tesla driving on Autopilot collided with a parked Florida Highway Patrol vehicle in Orlando.
Now, the NHTSA has requested details of how the system works, via an 11-page letter sent to the automaker. Specifically, the agency is interested in:
- How Autopilot recognises a crash scene (e.g. from the presence of flashing lights, hi-vis clothing and road flares).
- Whether this works...