WASHINGTON, Dec 21 (Portal) – The driver of a 2021 Tesla (TSLA.O) Model S involved in an eight-vehicle accident on the Bay Bridge in San Francisco last month told police he was in full Self Driving Mode (FSD). not working properly, according to a police report released on Wednesday.
The Thanksgiving Day accident on Interstate-80 near Treasure Island resulted in two youths being taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries and caused lengthy delays on the bridge.
CEO Elon Musk has touted Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” software as a potential cash cow for the world’s largest electric carmaker. But Tesla’s advanced driver-assistance systems — and Musk’s claims about them — face growing legal, regulatory, and public scrutiny.
Tesla sells the $15,000 FSD software as an add-on that allows its vehicles to change lanes and park autonomously. This complements the standard “autopilot” feature, which allows cars to steer, accelerate and brake within their lanes without driver intervention.
The Tesla driver told police the FSD wasn’t working, but police were unable to determine if the software was working or if his statement was accurate, according to the report, released after a Portal inquiry.
According to the police report, the vehicle made an unsafe lane change and braked to a stop, causing another vehicle to hit the Tesla and creating a chain reaction of more accidents.
The police report said that if the FSD malfunctioned, the driver should have manually taken control of the vehicle.
Tesla did not respond to a request for comment.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which has been investigating the automaker’s advanced driver assistance systems, did not comment.
Tesla says “Full Self-Driving” provides access to more advanced driver assistance features, but emphasizes that “all Tesla vehicles require active driver monitoring and are not autonomous.”
National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy has questioned Tesla’s marketing of the feature as “fully self-driving,” despite her inability to do so, and said Tesla needs to do more to ensure people use the feature do not abuse.
Reporting by David Shepardson and Hyunjoo Jin; Adaptation of Lincoln Feast.
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