Fact Check: "Dawn Project demonstrated Tesla's FSD running over a child-sized mannequin."
What We Know
On June 12, 2025, the advocacy group The Dawn Project, in collaboration with Tesla Takedown and ResistAustin, conducted a live demonstration in Austin, Texas, showcasing the performance of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. During this event, they tested the FSD version 13.2.9 by simulating a scenario where a child-sized mannequin crossed the road in front of a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and stop sign extended. The results were alarming: the Tesla Model Y, operating in FSD mode, failed to stop and struck the mannequin in all eight trials conducted (source-1, source-2).
The demonstration was witnessed by numerous attendees and journalists, and it aimed to raise awareness about the perceived safety defects in Tesla's self-driving technology. The Dawn Project has been vocal about its concerns, previously warning Tesla about the potential for its FSD to illegally overtake stopped school buses as early as November 2022 (source-1).
Analysis
The claims made by The Dawn Project and the results of their demonstration have been reported by multiple sources, confirming that the Tesla Model Y did indeed fail to stop for the child-sized mannequin during the tests. The Austin American-Statesman and InsideEVs corroborated the findings, noting that the vehicle did not slow down or alert the driver during any of the eight trials.
However, it's important to consider the context and potential biases of the sources involved. The Dawn Project has a clear agenda against Tesla, advocating for a boycott until the company addresses what they describe as critical safety defects in its FSD technology. This advocacy could influence how they present their findings. Conversely, Tesla has historically questioned the authenticity of demonstrations conducted by The Dawn Project, suggesting a potential bias in their portrayal of the FSD technology's capabilities (source-2).
Despite the potential biases, the consistency of reports across various outlets lends credibility to the claim that the FSD failed to stop for the mannequin. The tests were conducted under controlled conditions, and the presence of media witnesses adds a layer of transparency to the demonstration (source-4, source-5).
Conclusion
The claim that the Dawn Project demonstrated Tesla's FSD running over a child-sized mannequin is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms that during the live demonstration, the Tesla Model Y operating in FSD mode repeatedly failed to stop for a child-sized mannequin simulating a pedestrian crossing in front of a stopped school bus. While the motivations of The Dawn Project may introduce some bias, the factual outcomes of the tests are consistent and well-documented.
Sources
- The Dawn Project and Tesla Takedown Conduct Live Demonstration of Tesla ...
- Anti-Tesla activists test self-driving technology on child-sized dummy
- Tesla Model Y Driving On FSD Knocks Down Kid-Sized Dummies - InsideEVs
- Tesla FSD mows down child-size mannequins in third-party test
- Tesla Model Y fails self-driving test, hits child-sized dummies 8 times ...
