Once again, Tesla is in the news and there is tragic news for bikers. A fatal crash involving a motorcyclist and Tesla near Seattle, WA, made national news when the driver of the Tesla admitted the incident occurred while the Tesla was operating in “autopilot” mode. According to the police report, the driver looked down at his phone, “ the next thing he knew there was a bang and the vehicle lurched forward as it accelerated and collided with the motorcycle in front of him," killing the motorcyclist.
<span data-preserver-spaces="true">When will policymakers wake up and realize lives are at stake?
<span data-preserver-spaces="true">Just last week, a group of six (6) U.S. Senators sent a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on this exact topic. The letter, led by Ed Markey (D-MA), outlined several growing concerns with this new technology. The letter dated April 18th states,
<span data-preserver-spaces="true">“W<span data-preserver-spaces="true">e remain concerned that Autopilot, and features like it in other vehicles, could lead drivers to become overconfident and distracted, putting them and other road users at risk<span data-preserver-spaces="true">.”
<span data-preserver-spaces="true">We at the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) wholeheartedly agree! For years <span data-preserver-spaces="true">bikers<span data-preserver-spaces="true"> have sounded the alarm about the deployment of these vehicles on our roadways.
<span data-preserver-spaces="true">During meetings with NHTSA, the MRF has complained about the marketing of these vehicles, which can lead to disastrous results like the one seen in Washington State. It appears that some in Washington, <span data-preserver-spaces="true">D.C.<span data-preserver-spaces="true"> are starting to take notice. The letter also points out that,
<span data-preserver-spaces="true">“D<span data-preserver-spaces="true">rivers who utilize partially automated systems often become distracted or unaware of road risks due to overconfidence or overreliance on the system. In fact, many consumers are confused about or misunderstand the limits of partially automated driving systems, sometimes due to <span data-preserver-spaces="true">manufacturers’<span data-preserver-spaces="true"> misleading names for these systems<span data-preserver-spaces="true">.”
<span data-preserver-spaces="true">Thank you to Senators Markey, Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Peter Welch (D-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) for raising these issues with NHTSA.
<span data-preserver-spaces="true">The MRF is working on a similar version of this letter from <span data-preserver-spaces="true">lawmakers in the<span data-preserver-spaces="true"> U.S. House of Representatives.<span data-preserver-spaces="true"> Stay tuned for how you can educate your member of Congress on this issue.
<span data-preserver-spaces="true">Let’s<span data-preserver-spaces="true"> not forget what former NHTSA official Missy Cummings said last year,<span data-preserver-spaces="true"> “<span data-preserver-spaces="true">It’s <span data-preserver-spaces="true">very dangerous<span data-preserver-spaces="true"> for motorcycles to be around Teslas<span data-preserver-spaces="true">.”
<span data-preserver-spaces="true">To read the full letter to <span data-preserver-spaces="true">NHTSA<span data-preserver-spaces="true"> click the link below.
<span data-preserver-spaces="true">Ride Safe and Ride Free.