The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated a federal investigation into comma.ai, a company specializing in aftermarket hardware that enhances a vehicle’s existing advanced driver assistance systems. The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation stated that it is aware of five incidents where drivers using comma.ai equipment collided with stopped or slow-moving vehicles.
The consequences of these crashes have been severe. Two of the five accidents led to three fatalities, while 11 individuals were injured across four of the incidents, with some sustaining serious harm.
comma.ai was founded by George Hotz, who first gained widespread recognition roughly a decade ago for his work jailbreaking iOS devices and hacking Sony PlayStations. By 2015, Hotz shifted his focus to partially automated driving aids, a sector that was drawing significant attention due to Tesla’s Autopilot capabilities.
Hotz initially developed his technology by modifying his own Acura to enable a more sophisticated driver-assist feature that allowed hands-free operation. His original objective was to sell the system to Tesla, potentially replacing Mobileye as the automaker’s supplier.
Mobileye had ceased being Tesla’s supplier the prior year, a decision stemming from the company’s dissatisfaction with how Tesla was utilizing Mobileye’s products in ways that deviated from their intended design.
Aftermarket mods are always a gamble. NHTSA needs stricter regulations on devices claiming ADAS capabilities.
Did Tesla reject this system because they knew the risks? Hotz has a questionable track record with safety.
This is terrifying. People shouldn’t be allowed to buy hardware that promises autonomy it simply doesn’t have.