Global Courant 2023-05-11 23:52:00
WASHINGTON –
Tesla shouldn’t call its partially automated driving system Autopilot because the cars can’t drive themselves, says the top US transportation official.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says he is concerned about Tesla’s marketing of the system, which his department is investigating in connection with crashes that have left at least 14 fatalities.
“I don’t think something should be called an autopilot, for example, when the fine print says to always keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road,” Buttigieg said in an interview with The Associated. Press.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an agency within Buttigieg’s department, has sent investigative teams into more than 30 accidents since 2016 in which Teslas suspected of operating on autopilot or its more advanced automated fully self-driving system hit pedestrians, motorcyclists, semi-trailers. have hit. and parked emergency vehicles.
The probes are part of a larger NHTSA investigation into multiple cases of Teslas using Autopilot crashing into parked emergency vehicles causing other accidents. The NHTSA has become more aggressive in pursuing safety issues with Teslas over the past year, announcing multiple recalls and investigations.
Tesla, based in Austin, Texas, did not immediately return messages the AP left asking for comment on Thursday.
Autopilot can keep a car in its lane and clear of vehicles in front, while Full Self-Driving can handle most driving tasks. But in any case, Tesla tells owners to be ready to intervene at all times.
Buttigieg said the transportation department will hold Tesla or another company responsible for complying with federal safety standards. “We call balls and hit,” he said. “I see it as something where it’s really important to be very objective. But any time a company does something wrong or a vehicle has to be recalled or a design isn’t safe, we’ll be there.”
In the interview on Wednesday, Buttigieg said self-driving vehicles have enormous potential to reduce the nearly 40,000 U.S. road deaths that occur each year, a level he called unacceptable. But he said the technology has not yet been proven. “It’s far from automatic that it will meet that potential,” he said. “That’s what we’re trying to shape here at the Department of Transportation.”
The NHTSA is also looking at Tesla’s fully self-driving system. In February, the agency pressured Tesla to use the software to recall nearly 363,000 vehicles because the system may violate traffic laws. The problem would be resolved with an online software update.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said he expects to have fully autonomous vehicles this year, a commitment he has made for years. “The trend is very clear towards full self-driving,” Musk said in April. “And I’m hesitant to say this, but I think we’ll do it this year.”
The system is being tested on public roads by no fewer than 400,000 Tesla owners. But the NHTSA said in documents that the system can perform unsafe actions, such as driving straight through an intersection from an exit-only lane, going through a yellow traffic light without due caution, or not responding to changes in the speed limit.
NHTSA has also opened investigations into Tesla’s sudden braking for no reason, suspension issues, and other issues over the past three years.
Buttigieg declined to comment specifically on the ongoing investigations. “Both external agencies, states and other regulatory bodies on the marketing side, as well as us from a vehicle safety standpoint, are always paying attention,” he said.
No vehicle on sale today can drive itself, he stressed, saying drivers should pay attention in all cases.
The Justice Department has also asked Tesla for documents about Full Self-Driving and Autopilot.
