Skip to content
Ars Technica·

🚨NHTSA Investigates Comma.ai Devices After Five Crashes, Three Deaths

Comma.ai's driver assist devices under scrutiny after fatal crashes

TL;DR

NHTSA is investigating Comma.ai's aftermarket driver assist devices after five crashes, including three fatal incidents. The investigation focuses on the software's ability to detect stopped or slow-moving vehicles.

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation is probing Comma.ai's aftermarket driver assist devices following five crashes, three of which were fatal. The investigation stems from crashes where drivers using Comma.ai's devices hit stopped or slow-moving vehicles. This raises serious questions about the safety and reliability of DIY driver assist systems. Comma.ai's open-source software, openpilot, has been widely adopted, with over 30,000 users logging over 402 million miles. However, the crashes highlight potential flaws in the software's ability to detect and respond to obstacles. NHTSA is particularly interested in the software versions used in the crashes, including a fatal incident involving a forked build called FrogPilot.

NHTSA Investigates Comma.ai Devices After Five Crashes, Three Deaths — Ars Technica

Key Points

1

NHTSA investigates Comma.ai's devices after five crashes, three fatal.

2

Crashes involved drivers hitting stopped or slow-moving vehicles.

3

Comma.ai's openpilot software supports over 325 car models across 27 brands.

4

Over 30,000 drivers have used openpilot, logging over 402 million miles.

5

NHTSA is interested in software versions used in the crashes, including FrogPilot.

Why It Matters

If you're using Comma.ai's openpilot software or considering it, this investigation highlights critical safety concerns. The crashes raise questions about the reliability of DIY driver assist systems, especially in detecting stopped vehicles. Developers and car enthusiasts relying on openpilot should closely monitor the investigation's findings.

NHTSAComma.aidriver assistsafetyinvestigation

Comments

Subscribe to join the conversation...

Be the first to comment

Enjoyed this article?

Get it daily. 7am. Free. Reads in 5 minutes.

Join 3,488 builders reading daily.

Also get