On April 17, 2021, two passenger’s of a Tesla vehicle were killed in a crash in Texas. The crash occurred when the vehicle came around a curve at a high rate of speed and collided with a tree. Reports of the accident suggest that no one was in the driver’s seat, and that the car’s “self-driving” function was being used at the time of the collision. The unfortunate crash has caused experts to warn consumers that autonomous self-driving car technology is not yet a reality. Further, drivers must remain in the driver’s seat with their hands on the wheel and their attention on the road.
Some believe that the term “autopilot” is being used in a deceptive way by car companies to describe what is actually just an advanced cruise control system. The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration has launched an investigation into the Tesla crash.
From a legal perspective, the safety of self-driving cars, the the liability for car manufacturers and negligent drivers, is being closely watched.