Media reported on the 9th that Tesla was scheduled to appear in court this week to address safety concerns regarding its autopilot system, which was accused of causing a driver’s death. However, Tesla reached a settlement with the family of the victim, Apple engineer Wei Lun Huang, before the trial. The details of the settlement were not disclosed to the public, as Tesla requested to keep the specific amount confidential to avoid setting a precedent for similar cases.
Apple engineer dies in Model X crash Investigation: Autopilot system used for nearly 19 minutes On March 23, 2018, Huang Weilun was driving a Tesla Model X near Mountain View, California, when he crashed into a highway barrier and tragically died. The investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board showed that the autopilot system was used for nearly 19 minutes before the crash, with the car traveling at 71 miles per hour when it veered off the highway.
NTSB revealed in its 2020 investigation that Tesla’s autopilot system, faded lane markings, and obstacles were factors in the collision. However, Huang Weilun was playing on his phone before the crash, so he also bears responsibility. Tesla’s lawyer argued that Huang Weilun was negligent and could have avoided the crash if he had been paying attention to the road. Huang Weilun’s family’s lawyer criticized Tesla for overselling the safety of its autopilot system. Despite admitting that Huang Weilun was distracted while driving, his family believes Tesla falsely advertised the autopilot system as fully autonomous. Therefore, they filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Tesla, focusing on the safety and design flaws of the autopilot system. Tesla: Driving requires a fully attentive driver Since Huang Weilun’s accident, Tesla’s autopilot technology has been under scrutiny. The NHTSA and NTSB have been investigating collisions involving Tesla vehicles, including a series of emergency vehicle collisions at other accident scenes.
After two years of investigation, analyzing at least 956 accidents, the agency conducted over 40 investigations into accidents involving Tesla’s autopilot system, which have resulted in 23 deaths. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that the autopilot system may give drivers a false sense of security. In its December 2023 report, it warned that the system could be easily misused in dangerous situations where it may not navigate safely. Following the report, Tesla immediately recalled all 2 million vehicles in the U.S. and issued warnings to drivers to pay attention to the road or keep their hands on the steering wheel when the autopilot system is activated. This accident sparked widespread discussions on the safety and reliability of autopilot systems. Tesla is facing lawsuits and investigations related to collisions involving its autopilot and full self-driving assistance systems, blaming distracted drivers. While the autopilot system can steer, accelerate, and brake on open roads, it cannot fully replace human drivers, especially in city driving. Tesla explained that it does not enable full self-driving and requires a “fully attentive driver” who can “take over at any time.” Red Star News reporter Wang Yalin Intern Huang Jin – Recommended Reading – Internet celebrity “One Smile City” reveals cancer diagnosis, underwent surgery, currently recovering, Maotai urgently responds!