Tesla Recalls 2 Million Vehicles "Safety Issues Persist... Autopilot Should Be Restricted"

"Autopilot Operation Should Be Restricted to Specific Areas"

Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla recently announced a recall of almost all vehicles sold in the United States to fix defects in its driving assistance feature, 'Autopilot.' However, some critics argue that this measure is still insufficient to address the fundamental safety issues of Autopilot.

Experts: "Updates Are Not Enough"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

According to the U.S. daily The Washington Post (WP) on the 17th (local time), experts pointed out that Tesla's recall action will not resolve the fundamental problems of Autopilot. Autopilot is an automatic feature that assists with steering, acceleration, and braking, and it comes standard on Tesla vehicles.

Earlier, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigated traffic accidents related to Autopilot and noted that there were insufficient safeguards to prevent misuse of the feature. In response, Tesla announced a recall of 2 million vehicles on the 13th, stating it would implement a software update adding a 'warning function.'

However, experts remain skeptical. They argue that rather than merely increasing warnings to drivers, stronger regulations should be implemented, such as restricting the areas where Autopilot can be activated.

Matthew Wansley, a professor at New York's Cardozo School of Law specializing in automotive technology, asserted that Autopilot should be disabled on roads with intersecting traffic. He said, "This issue is the reason why collisions frequently occur at intersections."

Jennifer Homendy, chair of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), also welcomed Tesla's actions but pointed out, "While it is good that they are taking some action, it is necessary to verify whether the changes are properly implemented. How can that be confirmed if the recall is voluntary?"

Previously, in 2017, the NTSB investigated several fatal accidents involving Tesla's Autopilot and recommended that the feature should not operate outside the basic conditions for which it was designed.

Richard Blumenthal, a Democratic U.S. Senator, criticized Tesla's measures, saying, "They fall far short of being sufficient," and added, "Relying on Tesla's self-enforcement is problematic." He emphasized, "There must be measures beyond voluntary compliance by the company when vehicles collide with obstacles, other cars, or veer off the road."

WP reported that fatal accidents involving Autopilot frequently occur when the system operates outside the specific locations and conditions for which it was originally designed.

U.S. Court Rules "Tesla Knew About Autopilot Defects"

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, a recent U.S. court ruling provisionally found that Tesla appeared to have been aware of defects in the Autopilot feature in a lawsuit related to a fatal accident.

According to Bloomberg News, Palm Beach County Circuit Court Judge Reid Scott allowed the plaintiff, Tesla vehicle owner Steven Banner's family to seek punitive damages on the 17th of last month.

This means that since Steven Banner's family presented sufficient evidence of Tesla's unlawful conduct and gross negligence, the jury could order punitive damages if it concludes Tesla's fault caused the accident.

The lawsuit was filed by the family of Steven Banner, who died when his Tesla Model 3, operating with Autopilot engaged, collided under the trailer of a large truck north of Miami in 2019, holding Tesla responsible.

Judge Scott compared this accident to a previous Autopilot incident in 2016, describing them as "eerily similar." He further ruled, "It is reasonable to conclude that Tesla's CEO and engineers were seriously aware of Autopilot's failure to detect traffic."

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