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Tesla admits FSD was on in fatal Texas crash, blames driver for 'overriding' it
Electrek • • business
Key Points:
- Tesla confirms its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system was active when a Model 3 crashed into a home in Katy, Texas, killing a 76-year-old woman, but states the driver overrode the system by flooring the accelerator to 100%.
- The company attributes the crash primarily to pedal misapplication, suggesting the driver mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake while trying to intervene.
- Critics argue this explanation ignores why the driver felt the need to override the system, highlighting inherent risks and driver complacency in Tesla’s Level 2 autonomous features that require constant driver attention.
- Past legal precedents, such as a 2025 Florida case, show Tesla can share liability even when drivers misuse Autopilot, due to the company’s marketing and weak driver monitoring fostering false confidence.
- Independent investigations by NHTSA are underway to verify Tesla’s data, as the company has previously been accused of withholding or misrepresenting crash information, underscoring concerns about the reliability of Tesla’s self-reported logs.
