A recent incident in Calgary, Canada has demonstrated the potential life-saving capabilities of Tesla’s Supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) system.
A family traveling at 110 km/hr (~68 mph) encountered an unexpected deer crossing, but the vehicle’s automated system responded quickly to prevent a collision.
The incident was documented by X user Manoranjan Haobam, who shared:
“Tesla FSD just saved our family, a deer, and the car! Driving at 110 km/h when a deer suddenly crossed our path—Tesla’s Full Self-Driving instantly detected it, smoothly braked, and prevented what could have been a major accident. Grateful for this life-saving tech!”
Tesla FSD just saved our family, a deer, and the car! Driving at 110 km/h when a deer suddenly crossed our path—Tesla’s Full Self-Driving instantly detected it, smoothly braked, and prevented what could have been a major accident. Grateful for this life-saving tech! #TeslaFSD… pic.twitter.com/tag55nNKsx
— Manoranjan Haobam (@HaobamMano) November 10, 2024
The incident comes at a time of increased scrutiny for Tesla’s FSD technology.
While Tesla maintains that FSD Supervised is designed to be safer than human drivers and continuously improves through software updates and real-world training data, the company emphasizes that drivers must remain alert and ready to take control.
Tesla’s owner’s manual explicitly states that FSD Supervised is a
“hands-on feature that requires you to pay attention to the road at all times,”
and warns drivers to maintain control and be prepared for immediate action when necessary.
The timing is particularly notable as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recently launched a preliminary investigation into Tesla’s social media representations of FSD Supervised.
The agency has expressed concerns about the company’s portrayal of the technology and its potential influence on driver behavior.
Despite regulatory scrutiny, Tesla’s safety data shows promising results.
In Q3, Tesla vehicles using Autopilot averaged one crash per 7.08 million miles driven, compared to the NHTSA average of one crash per 670,000 miles.
This safety demonstration coincides with Tesla’s recent unveiling of the Cybercab, their new steering wheel-free robotaxi, showcasing the company’s continued push toward autonomous driving technology. The two-seater autonomous vehicle, revealed in Southern California, represents Tesla’s vision for the future of transportation.
