A recent viral video shows a Tesla Model 3 using Autopilot technology drive straight through the barriers of a railroad crossing while a train was approaching.
The incident, in which the Tesla in Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode completely failed to stop at the railroad warning gates, rekindled debates about the dependability and safety of autonomous vehicles.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recent deadline for the automaker to submit crucial data from its investigation of FSD traffic infractions, including railroad crossing failures, made the incident particularly noteworthy.
The video, posted to Threads by a user named Laushi Liu, shows dash cam footage from his Tesla Model 3 on Sunday, March 8, near West Covina, California. The video shows the vehicle moving at 23 mph in Full Self-Driving mode. Instead of stopping, the car drives straight through barriers that have just lowered at the railroad crossing.
There was no indication that the Tesla recognized the obstacles or tried to slow down. The driver did not intervene in time, but the dash cam footage indicates he did press the brakes after the car blew through the barriers. Luckily, there wasn’t any worse collision involving a train.
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Critics have accused Tesla of deceptive advertising regarding its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems
In December, a California administrative law judge ruled that Tesla deceived consumers in the marketing of its vehicles’ Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems. The automaker later agreed to change the names of its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features in California. However, Tesla’s lawyers argued that no reasonable buyer would ever think a Tesla could drive itself, even though that is exactly what those terms mean.
Tesla now claims that the California Department of Motor Vehicles “wrongfully” labeled the company a deceptive advertiser, and it is suing the California DMV to reverse the ruling.