Should Tesla Be Blamed For Autopilot Accidents?

There is a hot topic roaming about in the automotive industry. The once Tesla drivers who liked their Teslas before they went into a tree are blaming the company for their issues. However, should Tesla be blamed for their cars having accidents?

Tesla Model S
By elbiforeningen

Tesla should be responsible for their cars. After all, they are the ones who manufactured them. However, not all of it is Tesla's fault. In this article, I will be talking about the Tesla autopilot situation and how it is both the company's fault and could be the consumer's fault in some cases.

Tesla Model X
By Steve Jurvetson

Tesla should have the majority of the blame. They falsely advertised the autopilot feature. They claimed it would help make things easier and safer when no one else has released this technology. The closest thing to Tesla's autopilot is Stop and Go, which basically is the car moving in a straight line on its own, found in stuff like the Volvo XC90 and the BMW i3. Tesla releasing exclusive items for the current time like Lane Changing and Autopark. This Tesla a desirable brand to buy along with the autopilot. However, because it isn't safe due to all the bugs and other issues with the hardware. Another concern is that Tesla isn't reliable. There have been many problems with their cars and there are more to come. Some Model X owners have experienced door problems. The autopilot falls into the category of unreliable Tesla features.

Tesla Model S
By Mr.choppers

The driver of the vehicle also takes some fault in some cases. Firstly, even in autopilot, the driver should still be paying attention to the road in case things go wrong. The driver should keep their hands on the steering wheel when the vehicle is in autopilot, so in case the autopilot is about drive into a BMW, the driver could prevent it. When the vehicle is in autopilot, the driver cannot be doing their nails or watching a movie, like Joshua Brown, who's car went under an 18 wheeler and was believed to be watching a movie when it happened. Tesla drivers still need to still be paying attention. If the drivers of the Teslas had been paying more attention to the road, then the accidents may have been preventable. However, some accidents that happen with the autopilot may be inevitable.

Tesla Model X and Tesla Model 3
By Steve Jurvetson

Some of these accidents that happen are avoidable. Before software updates happen, Tesla should do some hardware upgrades like the sensors to help them detect more obstacles and pedestrians. Tesla also needs to start working on the bugs in the software for autopilot. One way to prevent another accident  is by training the driver. Tesla should create a training course for the Tesla drivers who have the feature. That way, the drivers know the limitations and don't push the car too far.

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