A Tesla driver has claimed that the Autopilot system helped the vehicle avoid a detached wheel after a car collided with it, according to a report by Electrek.
The event was recorded on TeslaCam, an integrated dashcam system that uses Autopilot cameras to capture footage of the vehicle's surroundings in case of an accident.
TeslaCam Captures Incident
TeslaCam has previously captured dramatic footage that has aided police in criminal investigations and showcased Tesla's safety features.
One notable example is a video that went viral in 2019, in which a Tesla Model 3 was hit by a truck, and the driver used the footage to prove that the truck driver was at fault.
In another instance, a Tesla owner used the system to capture video evidence of someone keying his car in a parking lot.
In the most recent incident, the Tesla driver had been following a car launched several feet into the air after colliding with the detached wheel of a pickup truck in the next lane.
The wheel continued to roll towards the Tesla vehicle, which the driver claims the Autopilot system then swerved to avoid.
While Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving package include driver-assist features that aim to avoid collisions or reduce their impact, the company has stressed that these features do not turn the vehicle into a fully autonomous car.
The driver must remain alert and in control of the vehicle at all times when using the Autopilot system.
The driver of the Kia that hit the wheel did not sustain injuries in the accident.
Read Also : NTSB Report Claims Autopilot is Not the Culprit in 2021 Tesla Crash Despite No People Found in Driver's Seat
Tesla Model 3 Crashes Into a Brick
In related news, a Tesla Model 3 crashed into a brick wall in Sydney's west, leaving bystanders with minor injuries.
The incident raised questions about the functionality of Tesla's parking sensors and anti-collision mechanisms.
Although the vehicle is known to have anti-collision software, including full-body sensors and automatic braking, the accident has fueled skepticism over the safety of Tesla vehicles.
In April 2022, a Tesla in auto-driving mode crashed into a $3 million private jet after driving into a US airport. The incident, which was caught on CCTV, showed that the Tesla continued driving even after getting jammed under the jet's tail.
While it was not confirmed whether the vehicle's driverless feature was involved in the parking attempt in Sydney, the history of mishaps from the EV brand has created a stigma.
Furthermore, a 2022 report revealed that 70 percent of accidents related to advanced driver assistance systems involved at least a Tesla between July 2021 and July 2022.
The report raised concerns about the safety of Tesla vehicles and their Autopilot system, particularly regarding their ability to avoid smaller objects on the road.
Related Article : [VIRAL] Tesla Steering Wheel Detaches While Driving; Owner Disappointed With Automaker's Response