VIDEO: Who's To BLAME For This Tesla Model 3's Autopilot Crash? The DRIVER? Tesla?

It's hard to believe but Tesla is now operating in uncharted territory. That's because it is the US' most valuable automotive company, ever.

Hard to believe, eh?

Well, regardless of how well shareholders are doing right now, it is still a company fraught with issues. Take, for example, its customers who still believe their vehicles are impenetrable to danger so long as Autopilot is switched on.

One Model 3 owner found out the hard way, that's simply not the case.

While driving in rainy situation, one owner started video'ing his vehicle as the Autopilot mode was switched on. We assume his hands were fully off the steering wheel as they're holding the camera but we cannot say with certainty. In short order, the vehicle hydroplanes, loses control, and spins off the road and into some greenery.

Thankfully, the driver was not seriously injured or killed.

Just before the crash happens, you can see the driver's speed is 75 mph. That said, we've got to ask: Who's at fault here? The negligent driver who was speeding in the rain? Or, Tesla who has not clearly marketed the true capabilities of the Autopilot feature?

What say you, Spies?



I Love Tesla, but yes my car crashed on auto pilot. I am okay for the most part and car is being repaired. Enjoy

MDarringer - 1/11/2020 6:53:41 PM

+2 Boost

If the driver has his hands off the wheel, he is responsible and when they are off the wheel and he is using Autokill, then Tesla is liable too.

skytop - 1/11/2020 8:49:40 PM

-2 Boost

The driver starts gyrating long before the car begins to leave the road. Likes like the driver was having a fit, or a seizure or maybe he was asleep and suddenly woke up and was frightened.

Agent00R - 1/11/2020 10:37:34 PM

0 Boost

They were filming...

Vette71 - 1/11/2020 10:45:04 PM

-3 Boost

History repeats itself. In the history of accidents where users do something stupid that injures or kills them or others, when government gets involved its the manufacturer that is required to change the product. Hence idiot proof it. The nanny state. As these incidents pile up Tesla will be forced to change autopilot into something like adaptive cruise control.

valhallakey - 1/12/2020 4:31:04 AM

+2 Boost

Totally agree. If a car is on cruise control and runs into the back of another car is the cruise controls fault?? No drivers fault. Even in "autopilot" the driver is responsible to pay attention and immediately take control if something goes wrong. Looks like he hydroplaned going too fast on a wet road maybe??

SanJoseDriver - 1/12/2020 6:45:14 AM

+2 Boost

It looks like he was going 75 MPH on a very wet road. I think he would have likely done the exact same thing at that speed if he was driving. He is absolutely liable, should have been driving slower in those conditions and with his hands on the wheel. Also if you watch the video at 25% speed, you can see all sorts of other info, like his tires are not properly inflated and the car was telling him to take control for a long time based on how it was blinking. When the car was spinning out of control, AP was already off (he grabbed the wheel or hit the brakes).

Tesla should also investigate to see if anything could have been improved for those conditions. Perhaps how far you can go over the speed should be extra limited if these conditions are detected. Already if it is raining really strongly, you can't use "Navigate on Autopilot" the features that does automatic lane changes and highway interchanges and you're limited to normal Autopilot.

vdiv - 1/12/2020 6:59:15 AM

+1 Boost

Sounds like you are saying that Tesla does have some culpability here for allowing Autosteer in these road and vehicle conditions. If people do not understand the limitations of their vehicles even when they flash infront of them should they be even licensed to operate them?

mre30 - 1/12/2020 9:35:58 AM

0 Boost

Is 'Autokill' programmed to 'not exceed' the posted speed limits or can you set it to autopilot as fast as you want?

SanJoseDriver - 1/13/2020 10:08:50 PM

+2 Boost

On local roads you can set it to 10 MPH above the speed limit, expressways let you go 15-20 MPH over, and on highways you can go up to 90 MPH.

So this is a big question, right now anyone can speed when they are driving. The car doesn't cut you off if you go XX MPH above the speed limit. Should consumers have the same freedom with Autopilot or should there be tighter restrictions?

I think Tesla went the freedom route, since AP can go faster than it feels safe if you tell it to. You can even floor it to go above 90 MPH while on AP, but will get a really nasty message and it will disable AP for the rest of your drive once you take back control.

Hauerg - 1/13/2020 8:44:43 AM

+3 Boost

If he was indeed doing 75mp/h or 120km/h with these conditions on this road (while filming!!) he should return his drivers license and STFU.

If I were his insurance company I would have a close look at the fine print.

SanJoseDriver - 1/13/2020 10:10:26 PM

+2 Boost

Yeah, agreed.