He Trusted Tesla Autopilot, and Paid With His Life
This week in 2016, Joshua Brown, 40, drove Tessy, his new Tesla Model S sedan, one last time after completing a family vacation in Disney World. The drive lasted 41 minutes. It's then that Brown became an ignominious footnote in automotive history: he was the first person to die in a Tesla in the United States while using its semi-autonomous Autopilot driving software.
Brown, a former Navy SEAL in the Naval Special Warfare Development Group-aka SEAL Team 6-and a business owner, was a devoted Tesla enthusiast who clocked 45,000 miles in the first nine months of Model S ownership. Weeks before the fatal crash, he even posted a video titled "Autopilot Saves Model S," in which his car is shown swerving on an interstate highway to avoid a truck that has cut in front of him. A frame grab from the video is shown above.
He died in his Model S when it failed to brake as a tractor-trailer made a left turn in front of the Tesla while traveling at 74 mph. The Automatic Emergency Braking did not engage, and Autopilot didn't recognize the white truck in front of him despite a bright sky and ideal lighting conditions. His car struck the side of the tractor-trailer head-on at windshield level, causing the Model S to slide under the truck and continue down the road, driving through two fences before striking a pole.
The Florida Highway Patrol charged the truck driver, Frank Baressi, 62, with a right-of-way violation. Baressi told the Associated Press at the time that Brown was "playing Harry Potter on the TV screen" and that "he went so fast through my trailer I didn't see him".
In its 500-page report, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said that Brown, shown below, was required to have his hands on the wheel for 37 minutes of the trip, but only did so for 25 seconds. The car issued a visual warning seven separate times, saying, "Hands Required Not Detected," while a chime sounded between each warning.
The crash report led the NTSB to recommend that manufacturers develop ways to monitor whether drivers are paying attention while driving. This caused automakers to install inward-facing Driver Monitoring Systems, which use infrared sensors and cameras to monitor the driver's eye position, head movement, and other factors to detect fatigue or distraction. Some systems can also proactively slow the car down and steer it off the road, not just sound a warning. Such systems are common today, even in cars without self-driving systems, but despite all of the technology, mitigating the human factor is the biggest challenge, and one not easily solved.
Tesla introduced Autopilot in October 2014 by fitting hardware to the Model S sedan that could automate steering, braking, and throttle input. The software to run it was released a year later, along with Autosteer, which was basically lane-centering software. Brown's crash caused the automaker to update the software, reducing the amount of time drivers can have their hands off the wheel. By October 2016, Tesla released what it called full self-driving software, offered as a $5,000 Enhanced Autopilot option and a $3,000 Full Self-Driving Capability option.
While it continues to be improved, Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems have been tied to at least 51 reported fatalities as of October 2024, according to Forbes. In addition, Autopilot has been connected with 736 crashes since 2019. Similarly, Ford's BlueCruise self-driving technology has been linked to three deaths in two separate fatal crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There has also been one pedestrian death involving an Uber-operated autonomous Volvo XC90. GM's Cruise driverless taxi service has no reported fatalities. Fatality data from other automakers is not publicly available.
Time will, of course, improve these technologies. As of right now, however, we need to exercise caution and rely on our reflexes and instincts more often than not, lest we forget the past.
Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Motor Trend
22 minutes ago
- Motor Trend
You Can't Give Teslas Away These Days, but Tesla's Actually Trying To
Free car giveaways are typically associated with TV game shows, radio sweepstakes, or halftime contests, but right now there's one being hosted directly by an automaker. By participating in Tesla's 'TeslaVision' contest, you could score a brand-new Model Y and a private tour of the Texas Gigafactory. In 2017, Tesla held 'Project Loveday,' a video contest named after a 10-year-old fan of the brand who wrote a letter to CEO Elon Musk suggesting that customers submit promotional video clips to make up for the company's lack of traditional advertising. That contest received thousands of submissions and was eventually won by none other than YouTube superstar Marques Brownlee. The TeslaVision Contest Now, Tesla is holding the TeslaVision contest as a follow-up to Project Loveday. According to the company, it's here 'to commemorate launching deliveries of New Model Y in all continents where we operate.' That new Model Y is the so-called Juniper version, which arrived earlier this year sporting hardware updates, a remodeled interior, and a Cybertruck-esque headlight bar. So, the TeslaVision contest—it is, in Tesla's words, 'a global celebration and showcase of the owners and fans who have always recognized the true value and impact of our products.' To participate, submit a video no longer than 90 seconds 'showing how Tesla vehicles give you more in your life—more freedom, more safety, more fun, more convenience.' That video must then be posted to YouTube and shared on X and Instagram with Tesla's accounts tagged, and then those links uploaded in the contest submission form on Tesla's site. In addition to the Model Y winner, two runners-up will get an all-expenses-paid private tour of the Gigafactory outside of Austin, Texas, which produces some Model Ys and every Cybertruck. We Have Some Thoughts Acclaimed as America's best-selling EV, one might imagine that the Model Y is in such high demand that it wouldn't be so available as to be offered up as a giveaway. Evidently, however, Tesla has enough idle inventory to make one the grand prize in the TeslaVision contest. The EV innovator has faced harsh backlash due to CEO Musk's controversial involvement in Donald Trump's presidential administration. It's possible that the TeslaVision contest is being held to gather and then promote positive takes from Tesla fans who remain unbothered by Musk's drastic social impact, and are uninterested in the numerous other EVs from brands that don't have the contentious symbolism that Tesla now does, in addition to potentially longer range, faster charging, better quality, greater comfort, prettier styling, or higher performance. To wit, we question how a video could be created under Tesla's suggested parameters. Regarding 'freedom,' the advantage Tesla once held by keeping its widespread Supercharger network exclusive to its own cars is slipping away as other EVs gain access, allowing rivals to also enjoy road trip ease. Regarding safety, the 2025 Model Y scores the highest five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, as a plethora of other EVs do, but it no longer qualifies for IIHS Top Safety Pick as it did in years past. Furthermore, how Tesla's flagship Full Self-Driving (FSD) software has a propensity to make errors such as veering across a solid double yellow line into the oncoming lane of traffic makes safety seem tenuous at best. About fun, in our testing and assessments we've found Tesla vehicles don't have much to offer beyond the common EV attribute of quick straight-line acceleration, while rivals have superior chassis and handling refinement. To convenience, the spacious cabin, frunk and sub-trunk, and minimalistic layout found in Tesla vehicles contribute to that measure. However, the experience with MotorTrend 's 2023 Model Y long-term review car has often proved incredibly frustrating, such as the finicky flush-mounted exterior door handles, which often do nothing because the car doesn't recognize its smartphone app-based key, or how the cruise control can deactivate when using the windshield washers, or how, for now, using an adapter is necessary to charge on public Level 2 plugs. Hmm, maybe we wouldn't win this contest... positive thoughts! We should also point out the incongruity between asking fans and owners—many of whom likely already own a Model Y, given its ubiquity—to get excited about winning another one. If you're super excited about Tesla and want to show the company just how great you think it is and win a Model Y, you can submit your video clip to the TeslaVision contest website. Act soon, since the contest closes on July 17, 2025 or when 10,000 entries are received, whichever comes first.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Rally outside CBP office in Detroit condemns Trump's mass deportations
A small but vocal group of demonstrators rallied Wednesday, June 11, outside the U.S. Customs and Border Protection office on Michigan Avenue in Detroit to oppose ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and deportations, as large-scale protests unfold in Los Angeles. Organized by BAMN — the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration and Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary — the rally aimed to spotlight what activists describe as a coordinated assault on immigrant communities. "We're here to stand in solidarity with our fellow organizers and everybody in LA who's standing up. That's what we need to do in every city across the country to stop (President Donald) Trump's ethnic cleansing plan," said Nicole Conaway of Detroit, a BAMN organizer for the past 15 years. Earlier in the day, protesters also demonstrated in front of the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building in downtown Detroit, down the block from where the evening protest was held. According to activists, five or six individuals — most of them believed to be Venezuelan — were detained after their immigration cases were dismissed in court, a practice that immigrant advocates say is becoming increasingly common. "That's happening more and more. Regardless of the outcome, people have been snatched up straight out of court — and we've known people that this has happened to," said Kate Stenvig, another BAMN organizer and Detroit resident. A spokesman for ICE did not comment specifically on the alleged arrests in Detroit, but said that ICE officers are permitted 'to conduct civil immigration enforcement actions in or near courthouses when they have credible information that leads them to believe the targeted alien(s) is or will be present at a specific location, and where such action is not precluded by laws imposed by the jurisdiction in which the enforcement action will take place.' The local protests come amid escalating tensions in Los Angeles, where Trump has deployed hundreds of National Guard troops to respond to public demonstrations against his administration's immigration crackdowns. State and city leaders have said the move has only heightened unrest. 'Trump is not just deporting criminals. He is just deporting anyone who's Black and Brown, pretty much,' Conaway said. 'It's a racist, white supremacist, fascist regime, and the way to stop it is mass collective organizing and mass action like we're seeing in LA right now.' More: ICE denies Detroit high school student's request to stay in U.S. until graduation Though Wednesday's rally in Detroit drew approximately 20 participants, it also drew support from passersby. Drivers honked their horns, and a group riding on The Michigan Pedaler cheered in solidarity. Protesters held signs reading, 'Defend your neighbors against ICE' and 'Immigrants make America Great,' while chanting, 'LA has shown the way, immigrants are here to stay.' In addition to street activism, BAMN also operates a legal wing that represents families facing deportation. Conaway said she's seen firsthand how families have been torn apart at the office they were protesting outside of. More: More foreign students in Michigan targeted for deportation, including 22 at U-M 'One of our legal clients went in for a check-in right here, to this building (on Michigan Avenue), and never came out. They were detained there,' she said. Conaway added that she believes what's at stake goes beyond immigration policy. 'If Trump can win this battle, then we're further down the road to fascism and him being a dictator and not leaving the White House without force,' she said. More: Detroit criminal deportation cases skyrocket in Trump's first 100 days A spokesman for ICE did not comment specifically on the alleged arrests in Detroit, but said that ICE officers are permitted 'to conduct civil immigration enforcement actions in or near courthouses when they have credible information that leads them to believe the targeted alien(s) is or will be present at a specific location, and where such action is not precluded by laws imposed by the jurisdiction in which the enforcement action will take place.' Several protests against ICE and Trump's immigration policies are planned throughout the country for Saturday, June 14 — the president's birthday. Organizers said BAMN, along with other activist groups, will lead a march beginning at 1 p.m. at Clark Park in Detroit. Free Press reporter Niraj Warikoo contributed to this report. Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter. Email her: nrahal@ Follow her on Twitter @nrahal1. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit activists protest ICE, show solidarity with LA demonstrations
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Elon Musk backtracks on Trump criticism. How will the tech world react?
Days after a fiery online feud seemed to signal an end to the relationship between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump, the tech billionaire has backtracked. In a social media post early on Wednesday, Musk expressed regret for the very public feud, saying he went 'too far.' Musk also shared he thinks it was 'worth it' to have his net worth drop while he worked with the Trump administration on the Department of Government Efficiency. After becoming one of the leading voices of the MAGA movement before and after the 2024 election, the dispute between the president and Musk shocked their Republican supporters. While Trump has made a few comments about the fight on social media and to the press, including firing off a few warnings Musk's way, he's mostly sidestepped questions from reporters. Now, Musk seems ready to reconcile, but whether Trump is ready to repair the relationship is less clear. The relationship between Musk and Trump, and Trump and other tech industry titans, seemed to indicate the political maturation of Silicon Valley as they work to shape public policy to their benefit. But Musk's rise and fall is also a warning to those same titans, a clear example of the risks of engaging in the messy world of politics. Musk's posts come just days after the president told NBC News that the former DOGE leader was 'very disrespectful to the office of the president.' During their spat, Trump threatened that Musk's company SpaceX could face a termination of government contracts and potentially other retribution. It's unlikely that Trump will cancel SpaceX's contracts 'anytime soon,' Dan Grazier, a senior fellow at a national security think tank, told NPR. Musk in response threatened to decommission SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, but later walked it back. The feud began over Musk's displeasure with the Trump-backed 'big, beautiful bill,' which cleared the House last month. The bill would cut electric vehicle credits and could hurt his other company, Tesla. But John Helveston, a professor at George Washington University, told NPR the end of federal EV credits may not hurt Tesla as much as its competitors. Musk, a multibillionaire serial entrepreneur, spent much of the last several months positioned beside the president. His role in the Trump administration sparked concern among critics over what sway he had over Trump's decision-making, but hope among those who thought the duo could change the way Washington works. Peter Loge, a public affairs and political communications professor at George Washington University, said it may have seemed like Musk's influence on the president was 'higher and different' than other advisers, but, in reality, there's historical precedence. In the past, railroad titans, industrialists and shipping magnates have all sought to have power over government and its policymaking. Now, it's the tech sector, Loge said. 'It's a small collection of really rich people who get a lot of attention and who think they know best; they try to exert their force over public policy,' he told the Deseret News. Trump's inauguration ceremony was striking, as a string of powerful tech CEOs from Silicon Valley, including Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, and Musk, sat behind the president during his address. This growing influence comes at a time of significant change for the industry. 'A lot of these companies like crypto and AI are new to Washington and are new to trying to influence public policy. They could ignore Washington and do their own thing, and they discovered what Google, Microsoft and every other organization coming out of Silicon Valley discovered in the past decades, which is that you ignore Congress at your own peril,' Loge said. Pundits have also pointed to other tech giants who may step in to replace Musk, including venture capitalist Peter Thiel, who already has a relationship with Trump. Thiel has long been in Trump's orbit, endorsing his 2016 campaign and signaling the relationship between the tech world and Trump-era politics. There's a spiderwebbing impact that stems from Thiel, as Fortune highlighted in a report. Musk may now rely on his relationships in the tech world and with others in the administration, like Vice President JD Vance, to try to get back into Trump's favor. Meanwhile, the tech world will need to decide how far to lean into their political relationships. 'I'm heartened to see that we have, over the past two decades, seen a significant increase in terms of our political influence and engagement and we hope it continues to grow,' Ahmed Thomas, the CEO of the nonpartisan business association Silicon Valley Leadership Group, said. However, Thomas noted that going forward, he believes the tech industry should focus on emerging technologies, workforce development opportunities and be less dependent on the loudest voices in the room. 'I think for so many people, there's a focus not on opportunity, but rather where we have … more personalities and conflict,' he said. Regardless of whether Trump cuts out Musk entirely, or shifts his attention to another major tech player, Loge noted that Musk's dramatic rise and fall in the Trump administration is representative of a larger conversation about the relationship between wealth and political power. 'I think that, even as we wrestle with this new question, right, 'What about Elon Musk? What about crypto? What about AI?' It's important to remember that these are in many ways, very old questions about the connection between truth, persuasion, power and democracy,' Loge said.
