US Senate Requests Tesla Motors Explain Auto-Pilot Accident, Disable Auto-Steering Function

Tesla Motors chief executive officer Elon Musk, received a letter from the chairman of the United States Senate committee regarding the Tesla car accident in Florida. The Committee that oversees auto safety issues asks the company to explain themselves about the fatal May 7 crash. However, Tesla spokeswoman said she had not seen the letter and did not give an immediate comment.

The Tesla Motors auto steering function is part of the vehicle's autopilot software. Senator John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, who heads the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, asked the automaker to brief the board on their response to the said accident on July 29. Thune wrote that he is interested in hearing about Tesla's efforts to ensure its technology is safely deployed.

Tesla auto steering is now currently being studied and investigated by the US safety regulators. NHTSA is investigating the May 7 crash of a Model S driver who was using the autopilot, Mail Online Wires reported.

Meanwhile, Consumer Reports urged Tesla to disable the automatic steering function on its electric vehicles because of the crash, Automotive News reported. The magazine, which influences buyer decisions with its annual vehicle ratings and over 8 million followers, also asked Tesla to change its autopilot driving-assist system name to test safety systems fully, before public deployment.

Tesla Motors CEO Musk separately posted a tweet that a recent Pennsylvania crash was not due to the software. On-board vehicle logs revealed that the autopilot was turned off. Musk added that the crash would have not occurred if it was on.

Tesla auto steering feature of the autopilot software promotes a potentially dangerous assumption that the vehicle will be capable of driving on its own, Consumer Reports stated. However, the automaker defended the product and its name by saying that the autopilot functions like the systems in an airplane, which pilots use when conditions are clear. They also added that the driver is still responsible for, and should still be ultimately in control of the car.