Costas Lakafossis is an engineer and mishap detective based in Athens, Greece. He has actually submitted a petition with the National Highway Traffic Security Administration (NHTSA) asking that it remember every Tesla offered given that 2013. Why? Since the automobiles have the ability to move straight from drive into reverse without the chauffeur requiring to touch the brake pedal. “I am not turning versus Tesla. I simply wished to highlight the unsafe shortage of cars that can cost lives. I felt I had the duty to signal the United States authorities,” he informs the Greek Press Reporter
Lakafossis is not some nut task wanting to bring in fans on social networks. In truth, at the minute he is among individuals examining the crash in between a traveler train and a freight train near Tempi, Greece, in February that eliminated 57 individuals. The traveler train overlooked numerous signals alerting of the train ahead. Private investigators– consisting of Lakafossis– are attempting to figure out why the traveler train was on the incorrect track and why it stopped working to follow the caution signals.
Lakafossis states he started taking a look at the Tesla concern after a Tesla chauffeur lost control of his automobile in Athens as he was trying to park outside his workplace. Rather of the vehicle braking, it inexplicably sped up, smashing versus other automobiles and a wall. “I viewed the video from a security electronic camera. It was a scary mishap. The chauffeur felt betrayed by his clever vehicle,” Lakafossis informed the Greek Press Reporter
As part of his examination, he discovered a video of a comparable mishap including a Tesla in China in which 2 individuals were eliminated. He states comparable mishaps have actually taken place in France and South Korea.
A Tesla Celebration Technique
Image Credit: Kyle Field
In the prolonged technical file sent by Lakafossis to NHTSA, Tesla is implicated of presenting “unique functions” that motivate abrupt unintentional velocity occasions that have actually resulted in mishaps and injuries. “One such ‘unique function’ is the capability of the vehicle to stop and move into reverse equipment when the chauffeur is prepared to park, without the requirement of a real brake pedal activation,” states Lakafossis. “There is no useful advantage for this possibly unsafe ‘celebration technique’.”
In his petition, Lakafossis mentions that given that the 1980s, automobiles have actually had what is called a brake transmission shift interlock that needs chauffeurs to use the brakes prior to they can move into reverse. He asserts the brake interlock function lowers circumstances of abrupt unintentional velocity in cars with automated transmissions. The function has actually been needed in brand-new cars given that 2010. In truth, much of us have actually been conditioned through experience to push the brake pedal prior to engaging reverse equipment.
” After proactively resolving the issue of SUA mishaps in the 1980s, today it appears that we are relocating the opposite instructions, permitting a motorist to choose reverse equipment while still driving forward without requesting a brake pedal application, actively motivating chauffeurs to take pleasure in ‘feet-off automated braking and parking’,” Lakafossis states. He includes that the elimination of both feet from the pedals is a significant element adding to the increased danger of pedal misapplication mistakes, and indicate a variety of mishaps in files sent to NHTSA.
Eventually, Lakafossis suggests prohibiting the existing function and needing chauffeurs to push the brake pedal prior to moving from drive to reverse in Tesla vehicles. He recommends the simplest method to make the modification would be through an over-the-air software application upgrade.
” As an instant step to improve roadway security, I thus ask you to approve the petition to remember all Tesla automobiles in order to include a software application interlock to their control system, needing the chauffeur to push the brake pedal prior to permitting the vehicle to completely stop and reverse equipment to engage,” composed Lakafossis in the petition.
” Additional procedures worrying the [random] nature of automated braking must likewise be thought about, as it might motivate the periodic total elimination of the chauffeur’s feet from the pedals, which has actually been discovered to be an essential condition of all kinds of pedal misapplication mistakes.”
For its part, NHTSA states it will assess the petition and the accusations is consists of. It will then consider them versus its own field information to figure out if the petition ought to be approved or rejected. If the petition is approved, it will open a flaw examination, which might cause a recall, Carscoops states.
Under common situations, we may have connected to Tesla to get its take on this petition, however Tesla does not react to PR questions, so we do not even trouble anymore.
Good Sense Is Doing Not Have
Tesla owners understand Elon Musk’s fascination with what Lakafossis calls “celebration techniques.” Chauffeurs can inform the audio system to send out fart sounds to any part of the vehicle, an electronic variation of the ever popular whoopee cushion. There is a light program function offered that flashes all the lights in series. That function can now be shared wirelessly with other Teslas in close distance.
However while the capability to shift into reverse without touching the brake is outstanding, it does fall under the heading of a “celebration technique,” something to astonish and entertain your buddies and next-door neighbors with how incredibly cool your Tesla is. As fascinating as that might be, it is unwanted if there is a threat of severe injury or death from utilizing it. In the last analysis, a vehicle is not a toy. It is a 2+ lot movement gadget that can position a severe danger to life and limb if utilized irresponsibly. If the transmission/brake interlock has been needed given that 2010, how has Tesla been enabled to offer automobiles that are not in compliance?
When he initially became aware of this, among my coworkers took his Tesla out on the CleanTechnica test track where we carry out assessments of whatever from e-bikes to supercars. Much to his surprise, he was undoubtedly able to move from drive to reverse without touching the brake pedal. He never ever understood such a thing was possible in the past since he, like a lot of chauffeurs, has actually been conditioned throughout the years to use the brakes prior to moving to reverse.
As my old Irish granny would state, in this case, Elon Musk and his merry pranksters have actually been too creative by half. We anticipate this circumstance to end up being the topic of an NHTSA recall action quickly. There is merely no legitimate factor to permit this dangerous function to stay uncorrected.
Hat suggestion to Dan Allard, who, when he isn’t baling hay or feeding chickens, has time to do things like checked out the Greek Press reporter.
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