Safety update from Tesla: Airbags now trigger preventively - concerns grow!

Safety update from Tesla: Airbags now trigger preventively - concerns grow!

A new software update from Tesla, known as "Tesla Vision", ensures concern among drivers. This update, which is currently only available for the Y model, is intended to activate the frontal airbags in the event of impending impacts. The aim is to increase security when driving by reacting the airbags faster to avoid injuries. Tesla thus pursues a new approach by using the company exclusively on cameras to recover the environment. In contrast to other manufacturers such as Mercedes and BMW, this is in contrast to use radar or lidar systems to make their vehicles more secure. However, this methodology is discussed controversially, since in the past there were reports of malfunctions and problems with the Tesla Vision system, such as the so-called "phantom braking" and unreliable settings of the windshield wipers in rain.

The reactions of Tesla owners in Internet forums are shared. Many express skepticism about the reliability of Tesla Vision and its ability to recognize collisions in good time. In particular, the possibility that airbags could be triggered at inappropriate moments cause additional concerns. Users warn that the system could incorrectly activate airbags in everyday driving maneuvers, for example when braking at a traffic light. Futurism reports that some drivers are particularly concerned with the confidence of the airbag triggering and note that they have had cooler experiences with the software in the past.

Security concerns and accident statistics

Despite historically high security ratings, Tesla vehicles are always the focus of critical discussions regarding their software for autonomous driving. It is feared that the "Full Self-Driving" software (FSD) promotes risky behavior among drivers in particular. Internal data show that drivers with activated FSD software are more frequently involved in accidents in which the airbags are triggered. In the context of this security discussion, the examination of the Nhtsa In the game, which was initiated in 2022 and affects 830,000 vehicles. This investigation focuses on the accidents in which Tesla vehicles collide on emergency vehicles, while they stand on or off the road after an accident. The NHTSA wants to clarify why the system only switches off at the last second, which makes it impossible for drivers to react in time.

The numbers speak for themselves: In the USA, traffic accidents are still a major problem, with around 43,000 fatal accidents annually. Human failure remains the main cause of these tragedies. The pressure on manufacturers to guarantee the security of your assistance systems is growing. The EU plans measures to tighten the liability of manufacturers for accidents caused by their systems. OE24 emphasizes that transparency through accident statistics should be mandatory for the manufacturers in order to promote the development of safe technologies.