Charges of vehicular murder are being brought against a Tesla driver in Snohomish County, Washington, following an accident on April 19 that unfortunately resulted in the death of a motorcyclist. The 56-year-old motorist was operating the Tesla on Autopilot when the collision happened, according to police reports.
The driver was not paying attention to the road and was distracted by his phone, according to the investigators. He acknowledged drinking alcohol in the past, even though a field sobriety test revealed no alcohol impairment at the moment.
The driver’s negligence while using Autopilot was the crucial information for the police. They detained him because they thought his “trust in the machine to drive for him” amounted to negligence. The driver secured a $100,000 bail.
It’s unknown which version of Autopilot was used in this instance, although the vehicle was a 2022 Model S. Since a large portion of the software between Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) systems is shared, there may be misuse by drivers.
This event highlights how crucial it is for drivers to pay close attention when utilizing Tesla’s cutting-edge driver assistance technologies (ADAS). The importance of responsible use increases as motorcycling season approaches.
Tesla highlights the need for drivers to maintain constant eye contact with the road and both hands on the wheel. Nevertheless, phrases like “Full Self-Driving” in their marketing have suggested a level of autonomy that doesn’t exist.
Experts contend that Tesla’s messaging encourages reckless driving, which could increase the number of accidents. Similar concerns are raised by the recent settlement of a lawsuit in California involving another tragic Autopilot collision.
Although the driver in this instance is to blame for misusing the ADAS functions, there is ongoing discussion regarding Tesla’s responsibility in stopping such misapplication.