NHTSA: Tesla Cars Using Autopilot Involved In 273 Crashes In 9 Months

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirmed on Wednesday (Thursday, June 16, 2022, in Manila) that cars using Tesla Autopilot topped the list of crashes in the previous nine months, with 273 out of 367 incidents, Matt McFarland reported for CNN Business.

Photo Insert: Unlike in driver-assist systems of competing automakers, Tesla Autopilot comes standard on all of its vehicles.

The NHTSA classified crash data into two categories based on the level of autonomy: driver-assist systems, which provide speed and steering input, and fully autonomous technologies, which are designed to operate safely without human intervention one day.

According to the NHTSA, 273 incidents involved a Tesla system, either its "full self-driving" software or its predecessor, Tesla Autopilot.

There were 130 accidents involving fully automated driving systems, 62 of which involved Waymo. Transdev, a shuttle company, reported 34 crashes, while Cruise, a company that provides robotaxis for General Motors in San Francisco, reported 23.

The data lacks critical context, such as fleet size or mileage traveled, making it impossible to compare the safety of different technologies fairly. According to the NHTSA, not all relevant crashes may be included in the data set because crash data recording varies greatly between manufacturers.

"I would advise caution before attempting to draw conclusions based only on the data we're releasing. In fact, the data alone may raise more questions than they answer," NHTSA administrator Steven Cliff told reporters in a briefing Tuesday.

Two of the most commonly used systems are also two of the technologies with the most reported crashes. Unlike in driver-assist systems of competing automakers, Tesla Autopilot comes standard on all of its vehicles. Drivers describe using Autopilot frequently because it helps them feel less tired after long drives.

Waymo, the other company with the most total crashes, operates the country's most extensive robotaxi service, with operations in much of Phoenix, Arizona, and San Francisco.

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