An accident with a Tesla in which a person died in July is now being scrutinized more closely by the American traffic safety authority. The question is whether an assistance system was used.
The US traffic safety agency NHTSA has opened investigations into a fatal accident in New York involving a Tesla vehicle that may be using an automated driving assistance system. As a spokeswoman for the NHTSA said on Friday (local time), a special team was used to investigate the accident. The New York City police also confirmed the ongoing investigation into the death of a 52-year-old man who tried to fix a flat tire on his vehicle on July 26 and was hit by a Tesla. The company has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Several deaths investigated
The investigations are taking place at a time when Tesla’s autopilot and other driver assistance systems are increasingly being scrutinized in the United States. Since 2016, the NHTSA has initiated 33 investigations into Tesla accidents with eleven fatalities in which the use of driver assistance systems is suspected. In addition, after twelve accidents between Tesla models and rescue vehicles, the authority has initiated a formal safety investigation. Tesla’s assistance system for automated driving allows the driver to temporarily take their hands off the wheel.
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