Recently, golfing great Tiger Woods was involved in a rollover crash in Florida, which also resulted in the 15-time champion’s arrest for driving under the influence (DUI). The question on everyone’s mind is: could he have avoided the crash if he had been using Tesla Inc.‘s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system?
Elon Musk’s Response
Investor Jason Calacanis sparked a conversation on social media, jokingly shared that “Tiger could have been high AF and not flipped that car if he was using FSD!” He then reiterated that he wasn’t advising people to drive under the influence using FSD, but “a drunk person using FSD has got to be safer than a distracted person not using FSD!!”
Not that I endorse this, but Tiger could have been high AF and not flipped that car if he was using FSD!
Again, I’m not advising anyone drive under the influence with FSD… BUT.. a drunk person using FSD has got to be safer than a distracted person not using FSD!!
Responding to Calacanis, Elon Musk seemingly agreed with the investor. “True,” he said in his response.
True
FSD’s NHTSA Row, Experts Express Concern
While Musk shares his bullish sentiments about the technology, the FSD system has been under NHTSA scrutiny and faces a possible recall for millions of Tesla vehicles currently on the road. The Tesla Robotaxi, which is based on the FSD system, reported 5 additional crashes in January, taking the total number of reported incidents to 14 since the service rolled out last year.
Meanwhile, investor Ross Gerber, who is the co-founder of investment firm Gerber Kawasaki, criticized the system for being at a level 2, which meant that it would still need human supervision and intervention.
Regulation and Classification
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) said that the automaker’s ride-hailing service in the state wasn’t classified as a Robotaxi service. The agency’s Deputy Executive Director for Consumer Policy, Transportation, and Enforcement, Pat Tsen, shared this statement.
Market Analysis
According to market analysis, Tesla offers Satisfactory Momentum and Growth, as well as a favorable price trend in the Long term.
Price Action
TSLA slid 1.81% to $355.28 at market close on Monday, slipping 0.89% further to $352.12 during the overnight trading session.
Conclusion
The question of whether FSD could have prevented Tiger Woods’ car accident remains a topic of debate. While Elon Musk seems to agree that it could have made a difference, experts express concern over the system’s safety and regulation. As the technology continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how it impacts the future of transportation.