Autonomous Vehicle Accidents: Examining the Rise and Challenges of Driver-Assist Technologies

At the time of their release, about a decade ago, it was widely believed that vehicle autopilot and ADAS (advanced driver-assistance system) technologies would revolutionize road transport. Automakers claimed that automated driving would improve road safety and offer drivers immense convenience.

Unfortunately, the initial excitement quickly faded. Last year, more people lost their lives in auto crashes than in the previous two decades, with Tesla's autopilot leading the way.

What are Driver-Assist Systems?

Autopilot and other driver-assist technologies allow motorists to relinquish control of their vehicles to a suite of self-driving systems. There are five levels of driver-assist systems.

At Levels 1 and 2, the automobile can control braking, acceleration, and steering. However, this level features partial autonomy since the driver can assume vehicle control at any time.

Levels Three to Five encompass full autonomy of the entire driving process. The Level Three automated system can control a car under certain road conditions, such as maintaining a safe following distance in traffic, staying within driving lanes, and maintaining an appropriate speed. A Level Five system can control a car under all road conditions. However, vehicles with Level Five systems have yet to be introduced to the market.

Tesla, GM, Waymo, and Ford have recently released hundreds of thousands of Level Two vehicles. Tesla Autopilot is arguably the most commonly used self-driving automobile on today's roads.

An Alarming Rise in Autonomous Vehicle Crashes

While these technologies hold great promise for driving convenience and safety, the recent increase in road accidents involving Tesla Autopilot and other driver-assist systems is of significant concern. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 392 crashes involving autonomous vehicles reported between July 2021 and May 2022. Of these crashes, 273 involved Tesla Autopilot vehicles, with Honda Sensing accounting for 90 crashes.

What is even more troubling is the severity of these crashes. Five out of the 392 resulted in highway fatalities, and another six caused severe injuries.

Tesla has gained notoriety for its involvement in autopilot-related crashes, as three of its drivers have died since 2016 in accidents that occurred while the autopilot feature was engaged. The most recent incident was reported on July 7, 2022, when an older woman was fatally struck by a speeding Tesla Model 3 in California.

"While the autopilot and driver-assist technologies are designed to control the vehicle, both the driver and the vehicle may be held responsible for the crash, depending on the circumstances," says car accident lawyer Matt Sadler.

What Caused the Rise in Auto Crashes?

There is limited data available regarding the root cause of these crashes. It is impossible to determine whether driver-assist systems are solely to blame for the recent surge in autonomous car accidents.

Nevertheless, there is no denying that these technologies play a significant role. Elon Musk, the highly acclaimed CEO of Tesla, has publicly acknowledged that their Autopilot system has difficulty identifying stationary emergency vehicles. Such shortcomings have contributed significantly to the increase in auto crashes.

The NHTSA is actively seeking ways to curb this alarming trend. The agency now requires automakers to submit monthly crash reports detailing system defects, and owners of autonomous vehicles are also required to report any safety defects to the agency. These measures aim to hold automakers more accountable and reduce the crash rate.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes