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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Tesla avoids recall after Autopilot crash death | Tesla avoids recall after Autopilot crash death |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Tesla will not be ordered to recall its semi-autonomous cars in the US, following a fatal crash in May 2016. | Tesla will not be ordered to recall its semi-autonomous cars in the US, following a fatal crash in May 2016. |
| The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration closed its investigation after it found no evidence of a defect in the vehicle. | The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration closed its investigation after it found no evidence of a defect in the vehicle. |
| Joshua Brown was killed when his car collided with a lorry while operating in Autopilot mode. | Joshua Brown was killed when his car collided with a lorry while operating in Autopilot mode. |
| Tesla has stated Autopilot is only designed to assist drivers, who must keep their hands on the wheel. | Tesla has stated Autopilot is only designed to assist drivers, who must keep their hands on the wheel. |
| The feature is intended to be used on the motorway, where it lets cars automatically change lanes and react to traffic. | |
| The NHTSA report said data from the car showed that "the driver took no braking, steering or other actions to avoid the collision". | The NHTSA report said data from the car showed that "the driver took no braking, steering or other actions to avoid the collision". |
| Bryan Thomas from the NHSTA said the driver should have been able to see the lorry for seven seconds, which "should have been enough time to take some action". | Bryan Thomas from the NHSTA said the driver should have been able to see the lorry for seven seconds, which "should have been enough time to take some action". |
| 'Inattentive drivers' | 'Inattentive drivers' |
| The investigation did not find any evidence that the car's systems "did not perform as designed". | The investigation did not find any evidence that the car's systems "did not perform as designed". |
| However, Mr Thomas said there was "industry-wide" concern about the way driver-assistance features were explained and advertised to customers. | However, Mr Thomas said there was "industry-wide" concern about the way driver-assistance features were explained and advertised to customers. |
| "These systems require continual and full attention of the driver," he said. | "These systems require continual and full attention of the driver," he said. |
| "It's not enough to put [information] in the owner's manual and hope drivers are going to read that. | "It's not enough to put [information] in the owner's manual and hope drivers are going to read that. |
| "Manufacturers must anticipate how drivers would use the functionality, and that some don't read the manual." | "Manufacturers must anticipate how drivers would use the functionality, and that some don't read the manual." |
| He said systems should be designed with the "inattentive driver" in mind. | He said systems should be designed with the "inattentive driver" in mind. |
| The NHTSA said it would continue to monitor the safety of Autopilot and would take further action if necessary. | The NHTSA said it would continue to monitor the safety of Autopilot and would take further action if necessary. |
| Mr Thomas warned manufacturers that if safety defects were found in semi-autonomous cars, they would have to be recalled, even if the vehicles were capable of receiving over-the-air software updates. | Mr Thomas warned manufacturers that if safety defects were found in semi-autonomous cars, they would have to be recalled, even if the vehicles were capable of receiving over-the-air software updates. |
| Following the closure of the investigation, Tesla's chief executive Elon Musk tweeted that the report was "very positive". | Following the closure of the investigation, Tesla's chief executive Elon Musk tweeted that the report was "very positive". |