It is downright embarrassing, and frankly dangerous, that the U.S. government has delegated to car companies, and the technology industry, any consequential decisions about the next 100 years of cars and safety. For example, Wednesday, the United States Senate held a hearing on “Federal Perspectives” on autonomous vehicle technology. One …
Read More »Tesla Could Deliver ‘Full Self Driving’ Within Weeks. Here’s What That Means for Drivers—and Tesla’s Stock
Jason K. Levine, Executive Director of the Center for Auto Safety, does not believe that trust is warranted. “Based on Tesla’s cavalier attitude up until now when it comes to quality control, the safety of their [systems], or educating consumers regarding the limitations of their technology,” he says, “There is …
Read More »Feds investigating popular SUV for unexpectedly braking by itself
“We started seeing people saying it was braking for no apparent reason, and that’s really scary and potentially very dangerous,” said Center for Automotive Safety executive director Jason Levine. “We told them this needs to be investigated and there probably needs to be a recall here because this vehicle is …
Read More »Uber’s self-driving cars had a major flaw: They weren’t programmed to stop for jaywalkers
“Even the most junior human driver knows to expect that people sometimes walk outside of crosswalks,” said Jason Levine, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization. “When we have public road testing that has programming that essentially chooses to ignore the realities of how …
Read More »Federal regulators look into possible defect in Tesla batteries
To watch the story on Good Morning America, click here.
Read More »Tesla’s futuristic door handles blamed for death in fiery wreck
“While they often get high scores on crash tests, Tesla’s focus on style over safety and features that push up stock prices rather than protecting occupants and others on the road continues to raise serious concerns,” Jason Levine, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, said in an e-mail …
Read More »COUNTERPOINT: Are self-driving cars a good idea? Think safety first
We’ve got some disappointing news for consumers: you shouldn’t give up your driver’s license and trade it in for a robot car just yet. Although news outlets across the country have been breathlessly reporting the imminent arrival of self-driving cars, you’ll need to keep your eyes on the road for …
Read More »When harm comes from safety tech, what to do?
“There’s a real concern that this issue is emblematic of a bigger picture for driver-assist systems, whether it’s AEB or some other features that have such tremendous potential,” said Jason Levine, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, which petitioned NHTSA to open a preliminary evaluation of the Rogues …
Read More »Want to disconnect from your phone? Automakers are making that tougher
Staying plugged in — whether at the office, on vacation, or even in your vehicle — has become the new normal, and carmakers may be helping to fuel Americans’ addiction to their smartphones. Vehicle voice recognition systems make it easy for drivers to respond to text messages and calls. In …
Read More »Tesla accidents with Smart Summon feature draw NHTSA’s attention
Jason Levine, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, told Automotive News in an interview that he’s concerned Tesla tried to “insulate themselves from liability” by including — in the software release notes — that Smart Summon is only intended for use in private parking lots and driveways. According to data …
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