Tesla's autonomous robotaxis Their fleet has had three new accidents since its recent launch in Austin, Texas. With these latest incidents, the total number of robotaxis-related accidents has reached seven. The fact that these accidents continue despite the relatively low mileage and the presence of a human controller on each vehicle raises concerns about the technology and its safety.
Robotaxi Accident Rate and Transparency Issue
Because Tesla's Robotaxi service doesn't have a human controller in the driver's seat, the company is required to report these accidents to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Three accidents were reported at the service's launch in July, and another was reported the following month.
According to the 400 thousand kilometers covered from the end of June to the beginning of November, Tesla's Robotaxi accident rate is higher than that of rival companies, despite the presence of inspectors in the vehicle. WaymoIt is stated that the accident rate is approximately twice that of.
The most frequently criticized point is a lack of transparency. Unlike other companies, Tesla does not disclose to the public how accidents occur and who bears responsibility; it censors the "narrative" part of its reports.
Details of Accidents and Difficulty of Comparison
While the details of the three new accidents reported in September are unclear, based on the limited information available, one of the accidents involved a Robotaxi hit by a reversing vehicle, in another confused with a bicycle and the last one is it is about an unknown animal I understand.
Comparing robotaxi accidents is also challenging. While Waymo vehicles lack a human controller, Tesla vehicles have one and an emergency stop button. Despite this, the high accident rate calls into question Tesla's autonomous driving technology's current safety standards.
