news hardware A Tesla kills 2 people, the dispute over autonomous electric cars swells
A Tesla Model Y has gone mad in the Chinese province of Guandong. As a “Tesla killer”, the crazy electric car caused a terrible accident. Two people died and three others were injured.
Tesla killer: return to tragic drama in China
Autonomous electric cars have always caused a lot of discussion. Letting an AI take over the human behind the wheel is a safe bet for some people, but terrifying for others. Dramas like the one we are interested in today fuel the debate. Let’s get back to the facts.
On the morning of November 5, 2022 at 6:42 a.m., a Tesla Model Y attempts to park in a residential area in Guandong Province, China. For no apparent reason, the Tesla starts accelerating dangerously on small roads: The electric car accelerates as if the driver stayed on the ground for about 1 minute.
Apparently out of control, the white Tesla initially avoids other road users as best it can. panicthe driver honks and tries to warn as many people as possible about the danger of his vehicle. After a difficult slalom, the car logically comes past hit hard some people. At the end of its journey, the Model Y crashes into a shop window. balance sheet : 2 dead and 3 injured.
China is a country where video surveillance is ubiquitous. So the crazy race was filmed… and the video is still online on YouTube. The latter may not have been judged as violating the rules of the Google platform that contains it its share of shocking images.
Electric car controversy swells: social media theories on this Tesla accident
This isn’t the first time self-driving electric cars have claimed lives. In June 2022, US federal authorities counted 6 deaths and 5 serious injuries as a result of Tesla Autopilot. Well aware of the dangers of such a technology if it is not yet mature, the European legislators are slowing down the development of autonomous vehicles here, the results are therefore less macabre on the old continent.
Given the scale of this tragedy, Tesla representatives have been forced to speak on behalf of their company. The following was said:
Police are currently seeking an independent agency to uncover the truth behind this accident and we will actively provide any assistance necessary.
Tesla also wanted to remind you that this is the case impossible to observe an involuntary acceleration in his vehicles. According to the data recorded by the car, the gas pedal would have been pressed for a long time, while the brake pedal would not have even been grazed. Could it be some kind of suicide bombing? The driver’s zigzags and honking seem to indicate that he did not want to see this tragedy. This information seems contradictory… To be continued.
In short, the causes of the accident are still unclear. Internet users are panicking and the big debates about the dangers of autonomous vehicles are being reignited. These fears are justified and understandable, but often colored with ignorance when it comes to electric cars. At the moment, the scientific consensus is more on the side of AI, which appears to be much more reliable than humans. (even if it’s creepy).
