• NHTSA released long-awaited data on car crashes involving driver-assistance systems
• US govt recorded 392 car crashes involving ADAS in total, among which 367 were recorded between July and May
Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) vehicles using its autopilot have been involved in 273 crashes between July 2021 and May 15, 2022, more than any other automaker.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Wednesday published ‘Standing General Order on Crash Reporting for Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems’, saying that among 367 total crashes, Tesla’s driver assistance software was involved in most of the incidents.
Level-2 ADAS features can automate vehicle functions like steering, braking, acceleration and lane changing but stop short of making a car fully autonomous, however, Tesla calls its software “Full Self Driving” system.
As carmakers are rushing to add driver assistance systems, US regulators are trying to understand the practical effect of the changes.
Moreover, companies collect the data differently, making it challenging to conclude systems performance.
Among all the 392 crashes involving driver assistance systems reported till May 15, six deaths were reported and five serious injuries.
Honda Motor has reported 90 crashes.
No other carmaker reported more than 10 ADAS crashes during the period.
Data collection by the NHTSA is part of a broader effort by the US government to understand the risks and safety benefits of ADAS, which are becoming increasingly common.
Picture Credit: Al Jazeera
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