Due to the failure of both the user and the autosteer system to see the turning tractor, the two vehicles impacted, leading to the death of owner Joshua Brown.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission has said that it is also investigating why the company took until 30 June to publicly disclose the fatality, a full 54 days after the incident, and 9 days after it first informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. If the system is found to be defective, a recall might have to take place, though Tesla may be able to send an over-the-air update to the autosteer systems as oppose to a physical recall of the vehicles.
A second crash in Montana on Sunday 10th July was confirmed to have had the autopilot function active, but that it was not being used correctly by the user. On increasingly uncertain road conditions, the autosteer system sent out alerts for the driver to return his hands to the wheel. Tesla sets this out as part of its terms of use that are agreed upon enabling the autosteer feature and specifically advises the owner not to use the feature at high speeds on roads without dividing lines.
The advice to owners to remain attentive when driving with the autosteer has come under criticism, suggesting users would inevitably become distracted.
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