A Tesla vehicle operating in autopilot mode crashed into a van parked in a driveway in South Brunswick, New Jersey, on Monday at around 5 p.m. The driver was subsequently ticketed for careless driving.
Incident Details
The incident occurred when the Tesla, turning off Georges Road onto a side street, had its sensors detect a white SUV approaching from the opposite direction on the same side street. According to South Brunswick Police Det. Sgt. Tim Hoover, the Tesla’s autopilot system reacted to avoid a head-on collision with the SUV by accelerating straight into a residential driveway.
The impact pushed the parked minivan into the garage, causing damage to both the van and the Tesla. The owner of the minivan, who was planting seedlings near the garage door, narrowly avoided injury. “I was sitting in the garage doing the last set of lines. When I heard this bang,” he recounted. “When I came up, my feet were underneath the van.”
Investigation and Charges
Police believe the Tesla’s autopilot system may have mistaken the homeowner’s driveway for a continuation of the street and accelerated into it to avoid the perceived collision with the oncoming SUV. Det. Sgt. Hoover emphasized that even with advanced driver-assistance systems like autopilot, drivers remain responsible for exercising due caution.
“In the state of New Jersey, even if you have a fully automatic function on your vehicles… you still have to take due regard to drive with caution,” Hoover stated. The Tesla’s owner was issued a ticket for careless driving.
Implications
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges and responsibilities associated with the use of semi-autonomous driving technologies. While such systems are designed to enhance safety, they are not foolproof and require constant driver vigilance.
