A Tesla driver in southern California died back in early May this year while his Tesla was on autopilot. The driver from this incident was a 35-year-old male who was fatally injured when his Tesla, driving on autopilot, struck an overturned semi-truck on a southern California freeway. On average, 3,700 people lose their lives every day on roadways. With these statistics, one might think that automated driving is much safer than humans. However, accidents like this raise questions about the future of automated driving and its potential to make the road safer.
Is Autopilot a Safe Alternative to Humans?
In the fourth quarter of 2019, Tesla reported one accident for every three million miles driven in a Tesla with Autopilot engaged. According to NHTSA, the national rate was one accident for every 498,000 miles driven in 2017. The average American driver has one accident for every 165,000 miles driven.
Is automated driving still dangerous?
The short answer to this question is yes; driving in any circumstance has potential danger. While Tesla’s self-driving capabilities may remove many of the aspects of driving that humans fail to avoid, the truth is that roadways can be unpredictable. No amount of automation can remove the risk driving poses to passengers and others on the road.
On average, 3,700 people die every day from car accidents while on roadways. With these statistics, one might think that automated driving is much safer than humans. However, with news headlines like Tesla Autopilot Crash Involving Semi Truck becoming more common in our lives, don’t expect to see technology that is ultimately superior to humans anytime soon. Like anything artificial, nothing is perfect. If you are involved in an accident with a self-driving car or a semi-truck and sustained a personal injury. You may be entitled to legal compensation. To get started on this long road to recovery and financial compensation, please call our qualified car accident attorneys in Sacramento today to schedule your free consultation.
