National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been named in 3 documented digital harm incidents, including 1 fatality. The most common harm domain is Autonomous Systems.
Documented Incidents
3NHTSA opens investigation into Tesla Full Self-Driving after Arizona fatal crash
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched a probe into Tesla's Full Self‑Driving (FSD) software following four low‑visibility crashes, one of which on November 27, 2023 in Rimrock, Arizona killed a 71‑year‑old pedestrian. The incident involved a Tesla Model Y operating on FSD that collided with a stopped Toyota 4Runner and the pedestrian, with sun glare cited as a contributing factor. The investigation will examine whether the system can reliably detect and respond to reduced roadway visibility such as glare, fog and dust. The probe adds to mounting regulatory scrutiny of Tesla's camera‑only approach after prior FSD recalls.
Tesla in full self-driving mode abruptly brakes on Bay Bridge causing eight-car pileup injuring nine
A surveillance video revealed that a Tesla in 'full self-driving' mode abruptly braked, causing an 8-car crash on the San Francisco Bay Bridge on Thanksgiving Day. The incident resulted in nine injuries, including a 2-year-old boy. The driver, a 76-year-old lawyer, reported the incident to authorities. Tesla had recently launched a Beta version of its full self-driving feature. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating the crash and other incidents involving advanced driver assistance systems.
Two men killed in driverless Tesla crash in Spring, Texas after vehicle strikes tree and catches fire
Two men died in a Tesla crash in Spring, Texas, where no one was found behind the wheel, according to local police. The 2019 Tesla Model S crashed into a tree and caught fire, with one person in the front passenger seat and another in the rear. Preliminary investigations suggest no driver was present at the time of the crash. The incident has raised questions about Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) systems, which are not fully autonomous. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a special investigation into the crash.