For people to be comfortable inside an object cruising at high speed while weighing several tonnes, it must be reasonably safe. This is condition cars have to satisfy, and multiple regulatory bodies have been set up to ensure that automobiles comply with strict safety requirements.
Electric vehicles do not enjoy an exemption from these rules. In fact, they often face more scrutiny than traditional gas-powered cars. Tesla, the biggest EV maker globally, is concerned with the safety of its customers and other road users. This is why Tesla makes an incredible effort to reduce the risks of using its cars. How did Tesla perform regarding safety in the last quarter of 2021?
In this article, we look into Tesla’s safety record for the last quarter of 2021.
Tesla vehicle safety report
Tesla is confident in the safety of the cars it makes. It has many features that enhance the safety of its riders, including passive and active features and automated driver assistance. Also, Tesla cars have consistently scored high in safety or crash tests.
Despite these achievements, Tesla still posts voluntary quarterly reports on its vehicle safety. It began doing this in October 2018 to make the public aware of critical safety information about Tesla cars. Apart from promoting transparency, the data being in public helps stop the spread of misinformation and disinformation about not only Tesla vehicles but also electric vehicles in general.
Tesla has reasons to do this because its image rubs off on the rest of the industry as the foremost EV company.
Tesla’s accident data for 2021 Q4
During the last quarter of 2021, Tesla cars recorded a crash for every 4.31 million miles driven, with Autopilot engaged. With Autopilot not engaged, Tesla cars crashed once in 1.59 million miles driven. That is extremely impressive especially when you realize that Teslas are almost 4 times more likely to be involved in a crash when autopilot is not engaged, meaning you are 4 times safer driving on Autopilot than not.
Compared to the industry average, Tesla cars are way safer, whether Autopilot is engaged or not. NHTSA reported that a crash occurred every 484,000 miles across the country.
Tesla notes that crash rates are affected by the seasons, and it is best to compare the quarters over the years instead of consecutive ones. However, this data gives additional credence to the idea that electric vehicles are better for society and humanity.
