Tesla's Autopilot Feature Ends In Accident Again, Police Car Becomes Victim

Tesla Model Y. (Photo: Tesla)

JAKARTA - A Tesla driver in California crashed into a police patrol car after allegedly falling asleep while activating the Autopilot feature. This incident again sparked debate over the safety of using a semi-automatic driving assistance system on Tesla's electric vehicles.

According to local police reports, the accident occurred on a freeway in Los Angeles County in the early hours of the morning. The 28-year-old man's Tesla Model Y car hit the back of a police car that was stopped on the shoulder of the road to help another driver who had a strike.

Officers in the police car were reported to have suffered minor injuries, while the Tesla driver was not seriously injured. However, the collision caused severe damage to Tesla's front and sparked a small fire that was immediately extinguished by the fire team.

The police said the driver claimed to have activated the Autopilot mode before the incident. He thought his car could run safely without the need for full supervision.

"We found evidence that the driver assistance system was active at the time of the accident," said a California Highway Patrol (CHP) Police spokesman, quoted by Carscoops, Thursday, October 30.

"However, the driver remains responsible for monitoring the road and is ready to take control whenever necessary," he continued.

Tesla has yet to provide an official statement regarding the incident. The company led by Elon Musk has so far confirmed that the Autopilot feature is not a full autonomous driving system, but a tool that requires drivers to stay at the wheel and pay attention to road conditions.

This accident adds to a long list of incidents involving Tesla's Autopilot feature in recent years. The United States National Transportation Safety Agency (NHTSA) has previously opened a number of investigations into similar accidents, including those involving emergency vehicles on highways.

Although Tesla continues to improve its automatic driver software capabilities, traffic safety experts believe the feature still requires human scrutiny. They warn that excessive trust in the semi-automatic system can pose a serious risk on the highway.

This accident is again a reminder that driving assistance technology is not a substitute for human vigilance, but merely a supporter to improve safety if used properly.