“The driver of a Tesla Model S sedan using the vehicle’s self-driving mode has been killed in a collision with a truck, federal officials said Thursday, the first U.S. fatality using the new technology.
“The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said preliminary reports indicate the crash occurred when a tractor-trailer made a left turn in front of the Tesla at a highway intersection.”
Tesla driver killed in crash while using car’s ‘Autopilot’
The problem was that the car went under the side of a truck. Trucks are not required to have side guards. There was nothing for the car’s sensors to detect.
Side guards save lives.
- Media Coverage of the first Truck Underride Roundtable held at IIHS on May 5, 2016
- https://annaleahmary.com/tag/side-guards/
- Just got home from the latest side guard crash test. Watch it here!
- Knights of the Underride Roundtable: Finding Some Common Ground to Protect Travelers!
Update, July 2: I’m not the only one who thinks so. . . Tesla driver killed in autopilot crash might still be alive if trailers had side underride guards
July 3, saw another article: Tesla Autopilot Fatality — Timeline & Facts and this one: Why the Tesla accident had nothing to do with the safety features of the Model S
Tesla crash fatality could have been stopped by side guards. Tell NHTSA to require them on trucks.
Featuring our story and questions: Victims of underride collision demand Vision Zero and an independent Traffic Safety Ombudsman
August 8, 2016 UPDATE: We have launched a petition calling upon NHTSA to issue a rule to require large trucks to have side guards to protect against deadly side underride crashes. Please sign & share: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/104/026/213/mandate-side-guards-on-large-trucks-to-end-deadly-side-underride-crashes/
JANUARY 2017 Update: Just launched a new SIDE GUARD Petition. Please sign it! End Deadly Truck Side Underride Crashes: Mandate Side Guards
Aaron Kiefer’s TrailerSafe System: