A criminal prosecution against a Tesla driver in Los Angeles County is drawing to a close, marking the believed first time in the U.S. that felony charges were brought against a motorist using a partially automated driving system.
The case revolves around a fatal 2019 crash in Gardena, California, where driver Kevin Aziz Riad was using Tesla’s Autopilot feature. The collision resulted in the deaths of two people, Gilberto Alcazar Lopez and Maria Guadalupe Nieves-Lopez.
On Tuesday, Aziz Riad faces a restitution hearing, where a judge will determine the compensation he owes the victims’ families. This case has sparked legal and ethical debates about automated driving technology, especially as systems like Tesla’s Autopilot continue to grow in popularity.
Tesla insists that its vehicles require human supervision and are not autonomous. However, critics accuse the company of misleading marketing, giving the impression that vehicles using Autopilot can drive themselves.
The incident in question occurred when a Tesla Model S, driven by Aziz Riad and operating on Autopilot, exited a freeway and ran a red light at 74 mph, colliding with a Honda Civic. Both occupants of the Honda Civic were killed.
The U.S. safety regulators are currently investigating Tesla’s partially automated driving systems in relation to at least 35 crashes and 17 deaths since 2016.
This case underlines the need for clear guidelines and regulations around the use of automated driving features and highlights the potential legal consequences for drivers relying too heavily on these systems.