The self-driving vehicle industry has gotten a shock today as reports are coming out that a Tesla Model S electric car that was in autopilot mode has been involved in an accident that took its driver’s life.
According to the New York Times, the accident first happened on the 7th of May in Williston, Florida. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has released its preliminary reports that indicates that the crash occurred when a tractor-trailer made a left turn in front of the Tesla, and the car failed to apply the brakes. The driver involved in this accident was Joshua Brown, a 40 year-old Navy veteran that owns a technology consulting firm. By all accounts, Joshua Brown was a firm believer Tesla’s autopilot system, going so far as to record himself riding his Tesla while the car is in autopilot mode.
This accident is the first known fatal accident involving a vehicle being driven by itself by means of sophisticated computer software, sensors, cameras and radar. With major tech companies such as Apple and Google working on ways to make self-driving cars a reality, this incident would surely be a wake-up call to the potential hazards of a self-driving car.
Source: New York Times