Tesla has concluded that a Model X driver was not operating the vehicle’s Autopilot system correctly when it crashed on a mountain road in Montana over the weekend.
Immediately after the crash, the driver claimed that the Autopilot system malfunctioned, sending the electric SUV through a wooden guard rail and off the road. Tesla however, says that the driver is in fact at fault.
The company confirms that the car was being driven on a road without a center divider, a road type which Tesla doesn’t recommend the Autosteer system be used on. Additionally, Tesla’s analysis of the crash reveals that the vehicle soon alerted the driver to put his hands on the wheel as the road conditions became difficult. Following the driver’s failure to do so, the car veered off the road and through the guard rail.
The statement released by Tesla also reveals that the driver’s hands were not on the steering wheel at any stage as is suggested when operating Autopilot.
“The data suggests that the driver’s hands were not on the steering wheel, as no force was detected on the steering wheel for over 2 minutes after autosteer was engaged (even a very small amount of force, such as one hand resting on the wheel, will be detected). This is contrary to the terms of use that are agreed to when enabling the feature and the notification presented in the instrument cluster each time it is activated,” the statement read.
This incident comes after a fatal Model S crash in May and a serious Model X crash last week.
Via Electrek
Photos TeslaMotorsClub member Eresan
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