Tesla Autopilot Operated by Elon Musk Receives a Clean Chit From the US NTSB in a Fatal Crash in 2021
Elon Musk-run Tesla has received a clean chit from the US National Transportation Safety Board NTSB in a fatal crash involving a Tesla Model S Autopilot system in 2021.
The US transportation agency determined that the probable cause of the Spring, Texas, electric vehicle crash was the drivers excessive speed and failure to control his car.
This was due to impairment from alcohol intoxication in combination with the effects of two sedating antihistamines, resulting in a roadway departure, tree impact and post-crash fire, the safety board said in its report.
As for Autopilot, the NTSB determined it wasnt in use because the system is not programmed to not go faster than 30 mph on the street the Tesla last traveled.
Meanwhile, the US Securities and Exchange Commission SEC is investigating self-driving claims made by Tesla CEO Musk.
The SEC probe is to determine if the electric car-maker flouted its rules in promoting its full-self driving FSD and Autopilot software.
In September last year, a Tesla owner sued the electric car maker, saying the company and its CEO are deceptively and misleadingly marketing the Autopilot and Full Self-Driving software.
Musk had come under heavy scrutiny on the controversial Autopilot advanced driver assistance system that has allegedly killed many, with both federal and state regulators turning up the heat on the electric car-maker.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA upgraded its investigation from a preliminary evaluation to an engineering analysis, asking Tesla to answer questions about its cabin camera as part of a probe into 830,000 vehicles that include Autopilot.
Next : Lord Ganesha's Love: Health, Happiness, and Harmony for Our Family