Another Tesla Autopilot Crash Has Wrecked A Model 3 In Greece
Another day, another Tesla Model 3 story – this one could be the first reported Autopilot-engaged crash outside of North America.
The Model 3 was in northern Greece with its holidaying driver, You You Xue of California. As with this fatal Model X impact and this bizarre incident where a Model S failed to see a fire truck, Autopilot was engaged. Yet again, the driver trusted it too much and paid the price.
While travelling at 75mph (the speed limit), reports suggest that the system became confused by an exit slip-road, jerking away from the straight-ahead lane unexpectedly – and too late for the distracted Mr Xue to prevent it hitting the solid lane divider.
In a statement on his Facebook page, he has admitted looking at a navigation app on his phone with one hand on the wheel. After the early end struck his 24,000-mile-plus trip across 25 countries he wrote:
“My left hand was grasping the bottom of the steering wheel during the drive, my right hand was resting on my lap. The vehicle showed no signs of difficulty following the road up until this fork.
“As the gore point began, approximately 8m before the crash barrier and end of the fork, my Model 3 veered suddenly and with great force to the right. I was taking a glance at the navigation on my phone, and was not paying full attention to the road.
“I was startled by the sudden change in direction of the car, and I attempted to apply additional grip onto the steering wheel in an attempt to correct the steering.
“This input was too late and although I was only a few inches from clearing the crash barrier, the front left of the vehicle near the wheel well crashed into the right edge of the barrier, resulting in severe damage.”
He wasn’t harmed and the damage looks a lot worse than the impact actually was. No airbags fired. The video below shows the place where the accident happened.
Tesla’s response, a statement sent to Electrek, said what we’ve also been trying to explain. Tesla said:
“Although we haven’t been able to retrieve any data from the vehicle given that the accident occurred in an unsupported area, Tesla has always been clear that the driver must remain responsible for the car at all times when using Autopilot.”
Remember: these are not self-driving cars. They can’t be trusted not to have random spasms caused by errant code. Use the sensor array as a driver backup, not a chauffeur.
Sources: AutoGreekNews and NewsAuto via CarScoops
Comments
If you are Greek, you know that our roads are not fit for any auto pilots because IF there are lane markings they are really faded or far from straight. No wonder the auto pilot crashed in Greece
Not only that but TV hasn’t talked about tesla’s autopilot failure yet. Greece thinks it’s autopilot is an evolution or something like that
When you try to pay debt and end up more bankrupt than ever.
They just shouldn’t have called it “Autopilot” they should have called it something like “Advanced Cruise Control”
To their credit the name doesn’t originate from them, but from Tesla enthusiasts. They did eventually embrace it though.
Also Autopilot does not in any way imply autonomous driving. Autopilot systems in planes work the exact same way in that they always require human supervision. It’s just people’s stupid interpretation of the system that is mostly at fault.
In my oppinion if the tech is not “bulletproof” then don’t even allow it on the road. I’m starting to have phobias from steering column assist motors. Let me turn the wheel. No assists. If that means no auto parking either ,thats fine by me.
Jesus people need some common sense
Cars will not be the same anymore, damn i feel sad
Shit needs banning. Immediately.
It strikes me that the driver is californian so the first crash in europe is caused by an american 🤔😂
I am from Greece. Honestly only a few of us Greeks might know about the autopilot due to the app. Greece just considers the tesla as a rewarding car without problems
Why is it that even outside the US, only US citizens crash Teslas..