It wasn't my fault. The car did it.

[pwd72s]

Hmmm, a new legal defense?

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/driver-caused-8-car-pile-bay-area-last-month-claims-teslas-full-self-driving-braked

A driver involved in an eight car crash last month told authorities that Tesla's "Full Self Driving" software "braked unexpectedly" and caused the pile-up.

A California Highway Patrol traffic crash report, viewed by CNN, said that the accident, which occurred in the San Francisco Bay Area and led to nine people being treated for minor injuries, happened when the Tesla slowed to a stop.

The crash report showed "the Tesla vehicle changing lanes and slowing to a stop", CNN wrote. They obtained the report via a public records request this week.

Back in December, the California Highway Patrol was unable to confirm whether or not "Full Self Driving" was active at the time of the accident. A highway patrol spokesperson told CNN they still could not confirm, and that Tesla would have the pertinent information.

The accident took place during lunchtime on Thanksgiving Day on I-80 east of the Bay Bridge. As the report notes, the pile up happened just hours after Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that "Full Self Driving" was available to anyone in North America who requested it.

[island911]

[sc_rufctr]

"Toyota unintended acceleration"

[hbueno]

Or maybe the self-driving software really is to blame. It'll be a few months before we get to see the results of the investigation.

[fanaudical]

This is a dangerous legal precedent if somebody decides the driver was not at fault. Pilots are responsible for safe operation of the aircraft regardless of how the autopilot is used. This should be the same for vehicle drivers.

[McLovin]

The driver will be at fault until cars reach Level 5.
At that point, there will be no driver liability, it will be on the manufacturer or others.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by fanaudical

this is a dangerous legal precedent if somebody decides the driver was not at fault. Pilots are responsible for safe operation of the aircraft regardless of how the autopilot is used. This should be the same for vehicle drivers.

+1

[908/930]

I would still think the car that failed to stop before hitting the Tesla is still at fault, and anybody that hit that car same thing. Need to leave enough room ahead of you to be able to react.

[Nickshu]

For many years I have said we won't see autonomous/self driving cars until the feds give their manufacturers total legal immunity from incidents.

[rwest]

Originally Posted by 908/930

I would still think the car that failed to stop before hitting the Tesla is still at fault, and anybody that hit that car same thing. Need to leave enough room ahead of you to be able to react.

Totally agree, there are many reasons why someone might need to stop suddenly, object in road, little kid chasing a ball, etc. so even if the Tesla randomly put on the brakes, the other motorists weren’t in proper control of their vehicles to stop in time.

[Cairo94507]

We all saw this defense coming, right? We have seen it for years already with blind-spot warning devices, back-up cameras, and people saying they never got the warning or saw anything in the image, so they just changed lanes, etc. The driver should always be responsible for the car in motion- period.

[pavulon]

Originally Posted by Cairo94507

We all saw this defense coming, right? We have seen it for years already with blind-spot warning devices, back-up cameras, and people saying they never got the warning or saw anything in the image, so they just changed lanes, etc. The driver should always be responsible for the car in motion- period.

Accountability is an antiquated idea--unless things went well then people are all about it.

[Robert Coats]

Tesla will struggle with automation just like Audi did in the late 80s, albeit they did it in secret.

[jyl]

The reality of urban freeways is that fast-moving traffic is packed so tightly that if you unexpectedly brake hard to a stop in a traffic lane, you’re very likely to cause an accident. If you try to leave the full requisite distance to the car ahead of you, other cars will move into that “gap”.

[jyl]

Originally Posted by Robert Coats

Tesla will struggle with automation just like Audi did in the late 80s, albeit they did it in secret.

I bought a nearly new Audi 5000 for a song back then. Walked into the dealer, offered him a ridiculous low price, he said it was a ridiculously low price, I said everyone has watched the 60 Minutes episode and I was the only buyer he was going to have all year at any price, he sighed and took it.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by jyl

The reality of urban freeways is that fast-moving traffic is packed so tightly that if you unexpectedly brake hard to a stop in a traffic lane, you’re very likely to cause an accident. If you try to leave the full requisite distance to the car ahead of you, other cars will move into that “gap”.

Certainly true near Portland...