Unravelling the Mystery of 8-Car Pileup Involving a Tesla - Surveillance Footage Raises Questions About FSD Beta Activation
Surveillance footage from a recent 8-car pileup involving a Tesla in San Francisco has been released, and it raises more questions than answers. The accident took place on December 22 when the driver of the Tesla Model S claimed FSD Beta suddenly changed lanes and slammed on the brakes, resulting in an 8-car pileup that injured several people.
The two videos show the white Tesla activating its left signal, changing lanes, and then hitting the brakes, coming to a complete stop where it then sits stationary in the lane. A trailing vehicle is unable to stop in time and hits the back of the Tesla, triggering several more collisions from other cars there were also unable to stop in time.
At first glance, this video seems to backup the driver’s story but some have suggested that he may have accidentally deactivated FSD/Autopilot or even fallen asleep at the wheel. Others suggest phantom braking could be responsible for the sudden stop, as they have experienced similar events with FSDb. It is unclear if the car was in FSD or Autopilot mode at the time of the incident.
Some are speculating that the driver intentionally tried to reproduce strange FSD behavior in heavy traffic to see if it would cause a crash for social media fame. However, this theory does not explain why he abandoned his plan after being hit himself.
It will be interesting to see what further details emerge about this incident once the car's logs are released and analyzed. In any case, it serves as a reminder that drivers must remain alert while using Autopilot or FSD features and should always be prepared to take control of their vehicles at any moment.The incident also highlights the importance of having good surveillance footage available in case of an accident. The video clearly shows what happened and could be used to help determine who is at fault for the crash. It's a reminder that cameras are becoming increasingly important tools for law enforcement, insurance companies, and other organizations when it comes to investigating accidents or disputes.
It’s unclear if this incident will have any long-term implications on Tesla’s FSD program but it does serve as a warning about how quickly things can go wrong in heavy traffic situations with Autopilot or FSD enabled vehicles. As always, drivers should remain vigilant while using these features and be prepared to take control of their vehicle at any moment if necessary.
What happened in the San Francisco accident?
On December 22, a Tesla Model S allegedly engaged FSD Beta suddenly changed lanes and slammed on the brakes, resulting in an 8-car pileup that injured several people. Newly released surveillance footage confirms some aspects of the driver’s story, but also raises more questions.
Does the video show phantom braking?
The video shows the Tesla activating its left signal, changing lanes, and then hitting the brakes, coming to a complete stop where it then sits stationary in the lane. A trailing vehicle is unable to stop in time and hits the back of the Tesla, triggering several more collisions from other cars there were also unable to stop in time. It looks like a more gradual slow down to a complete stop than what would be expected with phantom braking.
Is it possible that the driver fell asleep?
It is possible that the driver fell asleep, as he did not intervene when the car stopped. However, it is also possible that the driver accidentally deactivated FSD/Autopilot or ignored a required action so it disengaged and stopped.
Could this have been caused by Enhanced AP?
It is possible that this was caused by Enhanced AP combined with "driver isn't answering Autopilot warnings so I'm pulling over" behavior, except there was no shoulder for the car to pull over onto. Another possibility is that the driver was aware of strange FSD behavior in that area and tried to reproduce it in heavy traffic to see if it would cause a crash for social media fame.
Have you experienced phantom braking events?
Yes, I have experienced phantom braking events with FSD causing the car to come to a complete stop. However, this has never happened with Autopilot. It is important to note that FSD Beta is still in development and should not be used on public roads.