NTSB Says Tesla's Autopilot Should Share Blame In Deadly Accident

Federal accident investigators are poised to find that Tesla Inc.’s auto-driving system should share blame for a fatal 2016 crash in which a Model S sedan drove itself into the side of a truck.

The investigative staff of U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, in its first probe of the wave of autonomous driving systems being introduced by carmakers, has recommended that Tesla’s Autopilot system be declared a contributing factor in the crash because it allowed the driver to go for long periods without steering or apparently even looking at the road, according to a person briefed on the findings.

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MDarringer - 9/12/2017 8:25:33 AM

+1 Boost

AutoDeath is a great technology for killing idiots. Tesla needs to keep going down this path.

TomM - 9/12/2017 1:59:44 PM

+1 Boost

I would have to believe that Tesla has Liability Insurance that would cover this.
But this is what I said before - until the Manufacturers can include in their contracts of sale - either limited liability - or to be held harmless - It is the Insurance companies who will determine when and how comprehensive autonomous features will be sold to the public.

MDarringer - 9/13/2017 8:25:37 AM

0 Boost

Idiocy. So you're saying that if GM said to every Cobalt owner that they were to be held blameless for the faulty ignition switch, then there would be no legal problem? If what you say were reality--and it's far from being so--then EVERY car would have a clause holding the manufacturer blameless.

MorePower - 9/13/2017 4:49:39 AM

-2 Boost

This is a bad ruling if they hand it down.

MDarringer - 9/13/2017 8:23:13 AM

+4 Boost

This is a just and proper ruling. Tesla's lack of engineering expertise leads them to deploy a technology long before it is safe to do so.

MorePower - 9/14/2017 8:51:27 PM

+1 Boost

This is a ruling trying to assess blame on software that the consumer was expressly told is beta.

This lawsuit is like telling McDonald's they are liable for getting people fat because consumers are too stupid to know that fried and foods packed with sugar are not "healthy" food options.