Fact Check: Model Y FSD demo shows car striking child-sized mannequin!

Fact Check: "Model Y FSD demo shows car striking child-sized mannequin!"

What We Know

Recent demonstrations of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature have raised significant concerns regarding its safety and reliability. A test conducted by The Dawn Project, along with Tesla Takedown and ResistAustin, involved a Tesla Model Y that repeatedly failed to recognize a stopped school bus with flashing lights and struck child-sized mannequins designed to simulate children crossing the street. In total, the vehicle hit the mannequins eight times during the tests (Engadget, Driving.ca).

The FSD system, which Tesla refers to as "Full Self-Driving (Supervised)," requires constant driver attention and is accompanied by warnings about potential dangers if the driver does not remain vigilant. Tesla has previously faced scrutiny regarding the naming of its autonomous driving features, as many believe the term "Full Self-Driving" is misleading (Statesman, Carscoops).

Analysis

The demonstrations conducted by The Dawn Project and other organizations have been met with mixed reactions. While the tests clearly showed the Tesla Model Y failing to stop for a school bus and hitting mannequins, critics have pointed out that these tests were organized by groups that are known to be anti-Tesla. This raises questions about the objectivity of the tests and the motivations behind them (Engadget, Driving.ca).

Despite the potential bias, the consistent results of the tests—where the car failed to recognize both the bus and the mannequins—suggest a significant flaw in the FSD system's ability to handle critical safety scenarios. The implications of such failures are serious, especially considering that Tesla's FSD is marketed as a step toward fully autonomous driving (Carscoops, InsideEVs).

Furthermore, Tesla's history of incidents involving its FSD feature, including a fatal crash in Washington, adds to the urgency of addressing these safety concerns (Driving.ca, Statesman).

Conclusion

The claim that a Tesla Model Y using Full Self-Driving technology struck child-sized mannequins during a demonstration is True. The evidence from multiple sources confirms that the vehicle failed to stop for a school bus and repeatedly hit the mannequins, raising serious concerns about the safety and reliability of Tesla's FSD system. While the tests were conducted by groups critical of Tesla, the results indicate a significant issue that needs to be addressed before the technology can be deemed safe for public use.

Fact Check: Model Y FSD demo shows car striking child-sized mannequin!