Tesla has released its Q3 2024 vehicle safety report. Based on the company’s figures, Teslas operating with Autopilot technology tend to crash far less than the national average. In the third quarter, Tesla recorded one crash for every 7.08 million miles driven with Autopilot technology. For Tesla drivers not using Autopilot, the company recorded one crash for every 1.29 million miles driven.
For context, Tesla noted that the most recent data available from the NHTSA and FHWA shows that there was an automobile crash every ~670,000 miles in the United States. This suggests that, on average, Tesla’s Autopilot technology and its driver-assist features are a notable safety system for the company’s vehicles. Elon Musk mentioned as much in a post on X, stating that “Autopilot is a major safety improvement.”
The company’s safety results have remained remarkably consistent over recent quarters, despite Tesla’s growing fleet of vehicles in the United States and the rollout of more advanced Autopilot features. Here’s the breakdown:
- Q4 2023: One crash every 5.39 million miles (during winter conditions)
- Q1 2024: One crash every 7.63 million miles
- Q2 2024: One crash every 6.88 million miles
- Q3 2024: One crash every 7.08 million miles
Autopilot technology isn’t the only factor making Teslas among the safest vehicles on the road today. Their all-electric architecture provides several key safety advantages:
- Low probability of rollover risk
- Reduced risk of occupant injury
- Exceptionally rigid vehicle structure
These safety features were dramatically demonstrated in January 2023, when a Tesla Model Y fell off a 250-foot cliff at Devil’s Slide in California. Despite the severe nature of the crash, all occupants survived, highlighting the vehicle’s robust safety design.
