Tesla Is Back in the Hot Seat For Safety — Find Out Why

When you see news reports regarding Tesla safety, it makes you take a second look. The last thing car enthusiasts want to hear about is new claims being made against the automotive brand. Although Tesla never shies away from criticism, safety is a topic no driver takes for granted.

Elon Musk has developed a reputation for speaking out when necessary. And this time, it’s no different. Tesla safety is, once again, in question. Consumers just want answers. 

Month after month we see harrowing news reports involving deadly Tesla-related crashes. Investigations are leading us to the believe that the auto-pilot function is the true culprit here. Ironically, it’s one of the biggest appeals about the Tesla brand, giving every driver a real feel into the future of autonomous driving. 

Truth be told, with exciting changes in automotive functions, comes the need for better safety measures. Since the auto-pilot function is somewhat new to our driving experience, it requires heedful attention and refinement over time. Especially if passenger safety is at risk.

Read on to find out how the latest Tesla crashes in Texas and California are causing lobbyists to push for improved federal car safety regulations. Also, see Elon Musk’s direct response to the recent claims on Tesla safety. 

The proof is in the crashes 

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is launching a new investigation into Tesla Inc. after a Model 3 collided with a semi-truck in Southern California this month. This crash comes weeks after the deadly Spring, Texas accident involving a 2019 Model S. These accidents, among others, have forced police officials and cross-country lobbyist to question the safety of Tesla Motors and its auto-pilot function. To say they’ve become skeptical would be an understatement.  

While all new Tesla vehicles come standard with auto-pilot feature, new evidence is suggests it may play a harmful role when an accidents occur. Just the NHTSA only has 29 investigations on Tesla-involved crashes, creating further speculations that something needs addressing. Whether Musk proves them wrong or not, its a safety issue worth looking into. 

Musk denies concerns about Tesla safety and auto-pilot

In true Elon fashion, recent claims urged this EV mogul to come to the defense of Tesla safety. He vehemently denies any wrong-doing on behalf of the manufacturing of Tesla cars.

Shortly after the Spring, Texas crash caught nationwide coverage, Tesla founder took to Twitter, as he often does, to clear up any confusion. In a direct response to the WSJ, Musk applauded an opinion of one reader. Adding his own two cents to the topic at hand.

Your research as a private individual is better than professionals @WSJ!

Data logs recovered so far show Autopilot was not enabled & this car did not purchase FSD.

Moreover, standard Autopilot would require lane lines to turn on, which this street did not have.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 19, 2021

There is no harm in believing in your product. He spoke his truth, reiterating that auto-safety features did not contribute to the crash. In this case, auto-pilot ended up not being the root of fatality. However, a proper investigation must always be performed. Officials aren’t looking to nullify the validity of Tesla manufacturing. They are merely looking for an answer as to why these crashes keep ending so badly. 

What the lobbyists are doing about Tesla safety

At a recent government hearing, Senator Richard Blumenthal expressed his disdain for Musk’s response to the Texas collision. Blumenthal stated, “I was very disappointed that Tesla through its CEO took to Twitter to downplay the involvement of the company’s advanced driver assistance system before both the NTSB and NHTSA have completed their ongoing investigation into the deadly accident.”

He isn’t the only official taking a stance on Tesla safety concerns. Recently, auto lobbyists have been advocating for driving monitoring systems to be implemented in Tesla models. The purpose of this is to have a way of tracking driver behavior. In essence, preventing drivers from losing total awareness of the road.

Some might ask: How do popular Model 3 and Model Y earn 5-star safety? The truth is Tesla engineering is still mind-blowing. Consumers don’t need to stray away from this EV brand just because there are current concerns over the auto-pilot function. As a relatively new automaker, there is reason to believe some kinks will need to be worked out. But it can’t happen overnight. Overall, those safety ratings reign true.

The best thing Tesla enthusiasts can do is stay informed. Stay up to date on what lobbyists and automotive experts are saying.

Be weary of auto-pilot (for now)

There is a real concern over the safety of auto-pilot and how it contributes to Tesla-related crashes. While this might not apply to every Tesla crash, the amount of investigations going on is alarming. Musk stands boldly by his claims, vehemently denying involvement. Traffic organizations will continue to question the safety of autonomous driving, and that’s okay.

Some manufacturers, such as BMW and General Motors, have already taken the initiative on driving monitoring systems. The answer seems clear. Tesla safety, specifically regarding auto-pilot, can use driving monitoring systems as a way to improve. In turn, we hope the future of Tesla manufacturing continues to wow us and push us towards a safe future of autonomous driving.