WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. government’s highway safety agency said Thursday it will send a team to investigate a Thanksgiving Day pileup on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge involving a Tesla that may have been using the company’s “Full Self-Driving” software.
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Thursday that it sent the team after gathering information from law enforcement officers and Tesla.
The eight-vehicle crash happened about noon, closing two lanes and clogging traffic on the holiday. Nine people were treated for minor injuries including a child who was hospitalized, according to CNN, which got a copy of the crash report through a public records request.
The Tesla Model S driver reportedly told the California Highway Patrol that the company’s “Full Self-Driving” system was operating when the crash occurred, and that it braked unexpectedly while traveling at 55 miles per hour (88.5 kilometers per hour). The Model S shifted into the far left lane, then braked to 20 mph, causing the pileup, CNN said the report stated.
A message was left Thursday seeking comment from Tesla on the latest NHTSA action. The company based in Austin, Texas, has disbanded its media relations department.
Even with self steering you are supposed to be monitoring your car not asleep at the wheel
Sounds like a “phantom breaking” issue. This is a legit issue and has happened to me a few times. Out of the blue the car thinks it sees something (in standard auto pilot, FSD not needed) and breaks. Very scary.
If this happens quickly hit the gas pedal. Tesla has to fix this issue. As of late I have not had an issue. So it is possible they have fixed this issue but they are very quiet about it.
I may read the story when the details come out.