Tesla’s Autopilot system in spotlight in new US government reports on crashes

A Tesla vehicle that slammed into a California highway barrier in 2018 with its automated driver-assistance function engaged, killing the driver, had steered toward the same spot repeatedly during earlier trips, investigators reported on Tuesday.

The situation occurred four days before at the same location as the March 2018 crash and several weeks earlier, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said in a preliminary report, citing data from the Tesla electric sport utility vehicle’s computer.

The NTSB also released new data in a separate 2019 crash that was similar to one three years earlier, leading to warnings by the NTSB. In the latest case, a Tesla Model 3 driver died on March 1 in Florida when he engaged the car’s semi-autonomous driving system and it drove into the side of a truck blocking a highway.

The crashes highlight the risks of Tesla’s Autopilot system. While the company warns that drivers are responsible for maintaining control of the vehicle when using the system, some have allowed the vehicles to essentially steer themselves in a string of accidents, at least three of which were fatal.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the NTSB reports.