Self-Driving Teslas Are Fatally Rear-Ending Motorcyclists More Than Any Other

Summary

Among motorcyclists, there is a persistent rumor that Teslas are dangerous to ride around in traffic. Whether it’s their silent electric drivetrain, extreme acceleration, or self-driving technology supposedly failing to see motorcycles, every biker seems to know someone who’s had a close call with a Tesla. Our new analysis of data from the NHTSA on self-driving crashes proves this rumor to be true. Since 2022, Teslas in self-driving mode have been involved in five fatal motorcycle crashes (or more). It’s not just that self-driving cars in general are dangerous for motorcycles, either: this problem is unique to Tesla. Not a single other automobile manufacturer or ADAS self-driving technology provider reported a single motorcycle fatality in the same time frame. So, why are Teslas involved in self-driving crashes that kill motorcyclists? Let’s interrogate the data and get to the bottom of it. TL;DR: Self-Driving Teslas Rear-End Motorcyclists, Killing at Least 5 Brevity is the spirit of wit, and I am just not that witty. This is a long article, here is the gist of it: The NHTSA’s self-driving crash data reveals that Tesla’s self-driving technology is, by far, the most dangerous for motorcyclists, with five fatal crashes that we know of. This issue is unique to Tesla. Other self-driving manufacturers have logged zero motorcycle fatalities in the same time frame. The crashes are overwhelmingly Teslas rear-ending motorcyclists. Self-Driving Teslas Are Fatally Striking Motorcyclists From Behind I learned to ride a motorcycle on a military base, and the sergeant was brutally honest. He said: “If you’re going to die on the bike, it’s going to be your own fault.” Welcome to being a motorcyclist. Our margin of error is slim, and mistakes are easily fatal. It’s rough out here on two wheels. Helmet and jacket, strongly encouraged. Rider error, while tragic, is a fact of life. So the first item to rule out is whether the motorcyclists themselves are causing these accidents. The g...