Tesla self-driving test crashes during coast-to-coast drive
A Tesla vehicle attempting a coast-to-coast journey using its Full Self-Driving software crashed into a guardrail, halting the demonstration. The incident occurred in Pennsylvania, marking a setback for the company's autonomous driving ambitions. No injuries were reported, but the event underscores ongoing challenges in self-driving technology.
Tesla's ambitious effort to showcase its Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta software through a cross-country drive from Los Angeles to New York was abruptly ended by a crash on October 15, 2023. The incident took place around 2 p.m. on Interstate 80 in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, when the Model Y struck a guardrail after encountering a construction zone.
According to the Valley Vanguard report, the vehicle's two occupants—testers from Tesla—described how the FSD system failed to navigate the narrowed lanes properly. 'The car suddenly veered left and hit the guardrail,' said one tester, who requested anonymity. The impact caused significant damage to the front left side, rendering the vehicle inoperable and necessitating a tow truck.
This coast-to-coast attempt, which began on October 10 from the Fremont, California factory, aimed to demonstrate the reliability of FSD version 12.3 over approximately 3,000 miles. By the time of the crash, the group had covered more than 2,000 miles without prior incidents, relying on the software for over 90% of the driving. Tesla has promoted FSD as a step toward unsupervised autonomy, but the company has faced scrutiny from regulators over safety.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating similar FSD-related crashes, with at least 13 fatalities linked to Autopilot systems since 2016. In this case, Pennsylvania State Police cited a pothole in the road as a contributing factor, though they noted the self-driving mode was engaged. Tesla issued a statement: 'We are aware of the incident and are working with authorities to understand what happened. Safety remains our top priority.'
The halt of the journey highlights persistent hurdles in achieving full autonomy, including handling unexpected road conditions. Experts, such as those from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, emphasize that while FSD shows promise, real-world variables like construction zones remain problematic. The testers were unharmed and continued their trip via a rental car, but the event has reignited debates on the readiness of consumer self-driving tech.