By Blessing Nweke
A leading U.S. senator is calling for tougher action against Tesla following a fatal crash in Texas involving one of the company’s driver-assistance systems, intensifying scrutiny of the electric vehicle maker’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology.
Richard Blumenthal urged federal regulators to hold Tesla accountable after a Tesla Model 3 crashed into a home in Katy, Texas, killing 76-year-old Martha Avila. The driver reportedly told authorities an automated driving assistance system was engaged at the time of the June 19 crash.
Blumenthal said the latest incident highlights ongoing concerns about Tesla’s marketing and deployment of its self-driving technology. His comments come days after he and Edward Markey asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to closely examine Tesla’s safety claims surrounding FSD.
Tesla has disputed suggestions that its software caused the crash. The company’s head of AI software, Ashok Elluswamy, said vehicle data indicates the driver manually overrode the system by fully pressing the accelerator pedal, while CEO Elon Musk argued FSD would not normally travel at such high speeds through residential neighborhoods.
Federal investigations are continuing. The NHTSA has opened a special crash investigation, while the National Transportation Safety Board has launched a separate probe. Meanwhile, the victim’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Tesla and the driver, alleging defects in the company’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems and seeking more than $1 million in damages.
Original article
Comments