The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released data on 10 months of crashes involving systems like Tesla’s Autopilot. A handful of accidents turned deadly.
Tag Archives: Automobile Safety Features and Defects
Auto Safety Agency Expands Tesla Investigation
NHTSA will take a broad look at whether the electric carmaker’s driver-assistance system can increase the risk of crashes.
How Safe Are Systems Like Tesla’s Autopilot? No One Knows.
Automakers and technology companies say they are making driving safer, but verifying these claims is difficult.
Hurdle to Broad Adoption of E.V.s: The Misperception They’re Unsafe
Fully electric vehicles have fewer fires than gasoline-powered and hybrid cars, and their crash protection is at least equivalent.
Can A.I. All but End Car Crashes? The Potential Is There.
Well before self-driving cars become a reality, there are simpler approaches that can make roads much safer.
Road Rage Shootings Raise Alarms in Texas
Dozens have been reported in Texas alone amid a pandemic surge in gun purchases and a country increasingly on edge.
Is Driving High as Dangerous as Driving Drunk?
There’s limited data on how marijuana impacts driving performance, but experts urge caution before getting behind the wheel.
13-Year-Old Boy Drove Truck That Hit Van in Texas, Killing 9, Officials Say
The fiery crash killed a golf coach and six of his players, along with the boy and a man who was traveling with him.
As Automakers Add Technology to Cars, Software Bugs Follow
Faulty computer systems are prompting class-action lawsuits by disgruntled car owners, a symptom of automakers’ bumpy transition to the digital age.
Transportation Dept. Outlines Plan to Address Rising Traffic Deaths
The department said it would use new funding in the infrastructure law to carry out the strategy, which touches on issues ranging from speed limits to emergency medical care.
Tesla Reports 87% Increase in 2021 Deliveries
The electric-car maker managed substantial growth as Europe and China increasingly propelled sales.
Snow Closed the Highways. GPS Mapped a Harrowing Detour in the Sierra Nevada.
Public safety officials warned that alternate routes offered by apps like Google Maps and Waze don’t always take into account hazards to drivers.
Tesla Recalls More Than 475,000 Cars Over Two Safety Defects
The recalls, which Tesla initiated on Dec. 21, affect about 350,000 Model 3s and 120,000 Model S cars.
Crash Test Dummies Made Cars Safer (for Average-Size Men)
Designers and researchers are now trying to leverage cutting-edge technology to create a system that better protects every body, women’s included.
Tesla Agrees to Stop Letting Drivers Play Video Games in Moving Cars
A federal regulator said the electric vehicle maker agreed to disable the feature after an investigation was opened.
Public Streets Are the Lab for Self-Driving Experiments
When the U.S. ordered companies to report accidents involving driver-assistance tech, Tesla was thought to be the motivation. But 108 companies were listed, showing how widespread the testing may be.
U.S. Regulator Investigating Tesla Over a Video Game Feature
Drivers can be distracted playing games while the vehicle is in motion, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said, following a New York Times report earlier this month.
How China’s CATL Became the Top Electric Car Battery Maker
Beijing gave CATL lavish subsidies, a captive market of buyers and soft regulatory treatment, helping it to control a crucial technology of the future.
Tesla Drivers Can Now Play Video Games Even With Car Moving
The feature raises fresh questions about whether Tesla is compromising safety as it rushes to add new technologies.
Inside Tesla: How Elon Musk Pushed His Vision for Autopilot
The automaker may have undermined safety in designing its Autopilot driver-assistance system to fit its chief executive’s vision, former employees say.
Drunken-Driving Warning Systems Would Be Required for New Cars Under U.S. Bill
Congress attached the mandate to the $1 trillion infrastructure package that President Biden is expected to sign soon. It would take effect as early as 2026.
What’s the Best Way to Stop Tragic Accidents?
The engineer Nancy Leveson has an answer.
How to Drive Safely When You’re an Older Driver
Safe driving is possible for many people in their 70s, 80s and beyond, provided they take steps to maintain their skills.
How to Escape Your Car in a Flood
Only a foot or two of water can sweep away everything from sedans to trucks. Experts urge drivers to avoid flooded crossings, and to remember a few steps in a crisis.
In Nashville, Rolling Parties Rage at Every Stoplight
As Nashville’s popularity has grown, so has the “transportainment” business — a motley assortment including old buses, farm tractors and a truck with a hot tub. Many think it has gotten out of hand.
G.M. Is Expanding the Chevrolet Bolt Recall
The recall now covers the car’s entire output, beginning with the 2017 version. The latest move, to add three model years, raises costs by $1 billion.
Inside a Fatal Tesla Autopilot Accident: ‘It Happened So Fast’
A 2019 crash in Florida highlights how gaps in Tesla’s driver-assistance system and distractions can have tragic consequences.
Why Tesla’s ‘Beta Testing’ Puts the Public at Risk
We’re all Tesla’s guinea pigs.
Tesla Says Autopilot Makes Its Cars Safer. Crash Victims Say It Kills.
A California family that lost a 15-year-old boy when a Tesla hit its pickup truck is suing the company, claiming its Autopilot system was partly responsible.
Crashes involving Tesla Autopilot and other driver-assistance systems get new scrutiny.
Federal safety regulators told automakers to provide more information about accidents involving cars and trucks with automation technology.
Blinded by Brighter Headlights? It’s Not Your Imagination.
The rising use of light-emitting diodes and the popularity of pickups and S.U.V.s have prompted complaints about the glare and intensity of headlights.
How Mazda Rode Out the Pandemic While Rivals Slipped
Its sales climbed, and it racked up awards for safety and more.
Max Mosley, Motor Racing Chief and Embattled Privacy Advocate, Dies at 81
The son of Nazi sympathizers sought to separate himself from his parents, but was bogged down by a secretly recorded sex video later in life.
What to Do If Your Car is Recalled
Recalls are common, but receiving a notice can still be unnerving. Here’s what to expect.
Texas Police Investigate Fatal Tesla Crash Near Houston
Two people died in the crash, and officials said no one had been behind the wheel. Elon Musk, Tesla’s chief executive, said recovered data showed “Autopilot was not enabled” in the vehicle.
Tesla’s Autopilot Technology Faces Fresh Scrutiny
Federal regulators are investigating 23 recent accidents in which drivers were, or may have been, using the automatic steering and braking system.
Carmakers Strive to Stay Ahead of Hackers
The effects of a breach of a car, or fleet, could be devastating. Auto manufacturers and suppliers have aggressive plans, and a lot of firewalls.
Driver Charged in Crash That Killed 8 Immigrants in Texas
An Austin man who led a trooper on a chase that exceeded 100 m.p.h. faces a maximum term of life in prison if convicted, U.S. prosecutors said.
Recall of Kia Vehicles Comes With a Special Caution: Don’t Park in the Garage
A concern over fire risk for nearly 380,000 Kia Sportage and Cadenza vehicles is underscored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Driving in Winter? Tips From Experts on How to Arrive Safely
Recent pileups in Iowa and Texas amid severe winter weather have analysts and traffic experts issuing vital reminders about how to stay safe. One common refrain: Slow down.
Auto Safety Agency Faces Calls for Overhaul as Biden Presidency Begins
The new administration can “restart” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which “should be leading the world when it comes to vehicle safety,” the head of an advocacy group said.
3 Arrested in Genoa Bridge Collapse Investigation
The former chief executive and other top managers of the company tasked with overseeing the Morandi Bridge in Genoa were arrested in an investigation linked to its deadly 2018 collapse.
Revel Suspends Moped Service in New York City After Two Deaths
The company said it would “review and strengthen” its safety measures but that it planned to restart operations “in the near future.”
Driving Older Cars: Light on Tech, Heavy on Fun
“There is no nanny system. It is just you and your steering wheel and your right foot and the road.”
What’s the Sweetest, Crispiest Way to Stay Safe in a Car Crash?
It’s made with marshmallows, too.