TL;DR this is related to Tesla's Autopilot (the rule "requires automakers to report crashes if advanced driver-assistance or autonomous-driving technologies were engaged within 30 seconds of impact"). Musk wants to not be held accountable for damages and casualties caused by his shitty software.
Gosh it's a good thing that some rich bastard whose companies are subject to regulation isn't going to put in charge of some government position that he can leverage to quash any possible accountability he may be subject to...
My car will turn ON the automated features if it suspects a crash is imminent. This has saved me previously, when the car in front of me rapidly changed lanes revealing a car waiting to turn left directly in front of me. My car SLAMMED its own brakes and managed to stop faster than I thought a car could stop, and I hadn’t been using the intelligent cruise control or anything.
But I guess Ford is less worried about the software getting a possible bad rap since they’re, you know, a car company.
Working in this exact sector as a software developer, I get that this comes from the safety principle: When in doubt, do nothing. It is safer to not apply brakes when you're unsure so you do not cause an accident that would be avoided by doing nothing. However you cannot sell this as a safety feature to just switch off when you're sure an accident is about to happen. That's just stupid.
I get the Tesla hate, I'm also not a fan of Musk and his antics, but can you share a source that says Tesla are inherently worse in crashes than other vehicles? The NHTSA gives overall 5-star safety ratings to Teslas, the highest score possible; the leader of the NHTSA is notoriously anti-Tesla (because of Musk's antics), and is on record saying that she wants to reign him and the company in (and rightfully so).
The Highway Loss Data Institute, a US-based organization funded by the insurance industry, has not found higher crash rates for Tesla vehicles or other EVs more broadly based on overall insurance claims. Teslas do tend to have higher claim costs, though, according to the HLDI.
The article goes on to say that research indicates that the likely cause of a higher rate of EV crashes is drivers 1) not being accustomed to the differences between EV and ICE vehicle handling, and 2) EVs overall having more speed and power than ICE vehicles.
there is a long-established connection between horsepower and the frequency and amount of insurance claims. Fast cars hit things more often and they hit them harder, leading to more – and more severe – crashes. Added to this, EVs lack the usual engine sounds that go along with rapid acceleration and high speeds, so it’s conceivable drivers are less aware of how fast they’re going.
I'm interested in learning more about how EV crashes seem to be worse.
but can you share a source that says Tesla are inherently worse in crashes than other vehicles?
From the article you're commenting on:
A Reuters analysis of the NHTSA crash data shows Tesla accounted for 40 out of 45 fatal crashes reported to NHTSA through Oct. 15.
That seems to be fairly relevant when they're such a small percentage of total cars....
I have zero idea why you're jumping from Teslas to all EVs.
But under testing scenarios the brakes are usually hit before impact. Tesla dumps autopilot to avoid it being blamed and a human doesn't have time to hit the brakes.
Other self driving stays engaged and brakes, even non self driving has autobrakes, Tesla's effectively don't when in self driving, I get that part is confusing, but I've explained it at length. If something isn't clear about that still, please be specific.