The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has recently unveiled a new safety rating system for partial automated driving systems, with concerning results. Out of the 14 systems tested, none received an overall rating of “good,” with a staggering 11 systems being labeled as “poor” by IIHS.
Notably, Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving version, as well as systems from Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, and BMW, all received a “poor” rating from IIHS. Despite this, Tesla CEO Elon Musk remains firm in his belief that a Tesla operating with Autopilot is safer than the U.S. average.
In contrast, the top system tested was Lexus’ Teammate with Advanced Drive, which earned an “acceptable” rating from IIHS. Meanwhile, federal regulators are currently looking into nearly 1,000 accidents involving Tesla’s Autopilot.
In response to the alarming findings, automakers have emphasized their dedication to safety and ongoing improvements to their systems. While some manufacturers have expressed disagreement with IIHS’s assessments, others have acknowledged the feedback and pledged to incorporate it into future updates.
Curiously, Tesla did not provide a comment on the report. As the debate over the safety of automated driving systems continues to evolve, it is clear that both regulators and automakers must work together to prioritize road safety for all drivers.
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