The shoulder of a road in Long Island, New York, recently became the scene of a tragedy. A 52-year-old man was repairing a flat tire on his vehicle when a collision occurred. The other driver was behind the wheel of a Tesla vehicle, which has a driverless operation system installed.
Sadly, the man who had, moments earlier, been changing a tire on his vehicle that was pulled off the road was struck by the Tesla vehicle that had its automated driving system engaged. There have reportedly been numerous incidents involving Tesla vehicles where they have struck emergency vehicles parked on the side of the road. This incident brings the total number of fatal collisions involving Tesla vehicles to 10.
Tesla company says drivers must intervene with the system as necessary
The Tesla company has issued a public statement regarding fatal collisions involving its automated vehicles. The company says that the automated system must be constantly monitored by human drivers, who must be prepared to take over operation of their vehicles when the need arises. Tesla says its system is designed to assist drivers, not replace them entirely.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) weighs in on the topic
NTSB has reprimanded Tesla, stating that the company needs to do better to make sure its automated system can monitor human drivers to make sure they are paying attention. Whether or not a vehicle in a fatal collision was engaged in an automated driving system when a crash occurred, it is always tragic when a human life is lost. Families who mourn their loved ones may feel especially frustrated upon learning that a collision may have been preventable were it not for driver negligence. An immediate family member can file a wrongful death claim in a civil court to seek restitution when there is evidence that another person’s negligence caused a loved one’s death.