Vehicle Advanced Safety Systems Under Fire by NHTSA

An extremely concerning number of crashes involving vehicles with advanced safety systems engaged have occurred over the past year.

Are we being fed a can of lies from the automotive industry with some automakers working toward autonomous vehicles, or do drivers need to be better educated? Could the problem be as simple as the naming of some systems in these advanced vehicles? Maybe we need to take a step back and look at the driving habits that we allow on the road to find changes. The NHTSA investigates this problem while we take a deeper dive into it.

Let’s Take Some Numbers

During the time period covering July 2021 to May 15, 2022, automakers in the United States have reported nearly 400 crashes while these vehicles were using some form of automated driver-assist system. This is extremely concerning.

Unfortunately for Tesla, 273 of these crashes were their vehicles. Honda reported 90 crashes of vehicles using these systems, Subaru had ten, and no other automaker had more than five. Does this mean Tesla is a serious problem in the auto market? This is part of what the NHTSA is trying to figure out.

How Soon Are Crashes Reported to the NHTSA?

Serious crashes are reported to the NHTSA within one day of the company learning of the crash. That doesn’t mean the reports take place right away, but once the company learns of them. Any crashes that are deemed less serious much be reported by the 15th of the following month.

This allows the NHTSA to understand the failures involved in the advanced safety systems being used on modern vehicles. This might lead to new regulations being passed for automakers, but there could be other underlying problems that need to be addressed first.

Could Tesla Have High Numbers for Another Reason?

Yes, actually, Tesla might have inflated numbers compared to other automakers because of their systems that allow for transparency. Tesla vehicles use telematics to monitor their vehicles and receive real-time crash reports. Other automakers don’t have a system like this installed, and their reports come slower or not at all. Could this mean that Tesla is the only automaker actively and honestly reporting its crashes to the NHTSA? This is certainly possible but unlikely. Even so, it is a bit of a relief to know that at least one automaker has technology installed for the purpose of transparency with the NHTSA.

Tesla Might Need a New Name for Its System

Many advanced safety systems use names that are cloaked and require shoppers to ask what they are and how they work. GM has Super Cruise, Ford has Blue Cruise, and Nissan offers ProPliot Assist. None of these names gives you any indication the vehicle could drive itself, but Tesla’s does. Tesla calls its package of safety features Autopilot. Well, we all understand autopilot to be the function in an airplane that allows the pilot to set the controls, and the plane will fly itself for a little while.

Unfortunately, unlike an airplane, a vehicle is faced with traffic, turns, exits, and various obstacles. When the skies are clear, a pilot can set the autopilot system and sit back to relax for a bit. The same isn’t the case for a Tesla on the road. To make things worse, they also use the term “ Full Self-Driving,” which gives the idea that you don’t have to monitor the car; it will drive itself. This simply is not the case. Drivers are required to be ready to intervene at any time, but if the car is driving itself for a while, the natural thing to do is relax and be less alert than required.

Its Not All Tesla’s Fault

While the NHTSA investigates the need for more regulation and the absurd number of crashes of Tesla vehicles versus other automakers, the fault for these crashes doesn’t lie in the hands of the automakers. The advanced safety systems in these vehicles are there to offer warnings, potential intervention, and only short periods of hands-free driving. Drivers must remain alert and avoid distractions on the road. This brings us to a few tips to prevent being a distracted driver.

How Do you Avoid Being a Distracted Driver?

1. Keep Your Phone for Emergency Use

It’s tempting to quickly look down at a notification, but cell phones are the worse distractions in cars and should only be used when the car is stopped and out of traffic.

2. Limit the Number of Passengers in the Car

This includes your pets; make sure you only have the passengers you need, and they aren’t distracting you.

3. Take a Defensive Driving Course

This is a great way to learn about better driving habits and how to predict what other drivers might do on the road.

4. Avoid Eating While Driving

Your road trip might take a little longer, but you should eat only when the car is parked. In fact, get out and enjoy the inside of a restaurant instead of eating while driving.

5. Social Media is Your Enemy

Put your phone on “Do Not Disturb” to avoid the temptation of checking social media while driving. Too often, we think it’s okay just to look down for a minute, but that’s when an accident happens.

6. Keep the Activity Level to a Minimum in the Car

It can be easy to get lost in conversation, especially when driving with friends you haven’t seen in a long time but avoid this and keep your focus on the road.

7. Pull Off the Road if You’re Sleepy

If you’re driving on your own, this is extremely important. You have to remember that arriving alive is better than never arriving at all. You can be late for your destination, and other people will understand.

Will We See a Step Back in Technology?

Automakers are moving technology forward at an extremely fast pace. It might be time to take a step back with the advanced safety systems offered in vehicles to ensure they aren’t being used by drivers as a substitution for their focus on the road. The NHTSA has its hands full with this situation.