Should self driving in brands like Tesla be trusted at all with crashes like this happening?
A horrific crash recently occurred on the northbound side of Interstate 5, just north of Panoche Road in the United States. The incident involved a Tesla Model Y that, for reasons still under investigation, unexpectedly veered off its lane of travel. So was this an autopilot issue or was it human error? If it was the former can self driving be trusted at all.
According to early reports, the vehicle had been traveling in the #1 northbound lane when it suddenly left the roadway. It crossed the center dirt median, a section that separates north and southbound traffic, and tragically collided with a fixed metal guardrail. What makes this accident particularly shocking is the way the crash unfolded.
Moreover, the guardrail didn’t just stop the vehicle; it impaled it. Images from the scene show the rail piercing straight through the front of the Tesla, entering where the front grille and bumper would normally be and continuing through a significant portion of the cabin space. At first glance, the severity of the crash suggests a potentially fatal outcome.
However, what happened next is nothing short of miraculous. The driver, who was the sole occupant of the Tesla, sustained only minor injuries. Despite the extreme damage to the front of the car, the individual was able to exit the vehicle and walk away from the scene. This incident has reignited discussion about vehicle safety, particularly the advantages of EVs in certain crash scenarios.
On top of that, unlike traditional internal combustion engine cars, electric vehicles like the Tesla Model Y do not have a bulky engine block in the front. In a conventional gas-powered car, the same guardrail intrusion might have caused the engine to be pushed into the passenger compartment, leading to much more severe, if not fatal, injuries.
The absence of that engine block in EVs allows for a more efficient crumple zone and, in some cases, a safer outcome for the occupants. While the outcome was fortunate in this case, it’s a stark reminder of how quickly things can go wrong on the road. The cause of the crash remains unknown, but whether it was due to distraction, fatigue, mechanical failure, or another factor, the lesson remains the same.
Stay alert. Always give the road your full attention. A split second of distraction can have life-changing consequences, unless you’re incredibly lucky, like the driver of this Tesla. Drive safe. Stay focused. Your life depends on it.
