A tragic incident occurred near Seattle, Washington, when a Tesla operating on Autopilot struck and killed a motorcyclist. The driver of the Tesla, a 56-year-old man, admitted to looking at his cellphone while the vehicle was in motion. The driver claimed he was relying on the Autopilot system to drive for him when the collision occurred. The motorcyclist, identified as Jeffrey Nissen, 28, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities have not yet confirmed whether Autopilot was indeed in use at the time of the crash. This incident comes just four months after Tesla was forced to recall over 2 million vehicles due to a defective system intended to ensure drivers pay attention while using Autopilot. The recall required Tesla to update the Autopilot software to provide more warnings and alerts to drivers.

Tesla has faced criticism for the monitoring system in its vehicles, which experts argue is inadequate. They suggest that Tesla should implement infrared cameras to ensure drivers are paying attention to the road. It is unclear whether the Tesla involved in the crash had received the software update specified in the recall.

Consumer Reports has indicated that the software update likely went to most Teslas automatically. However, concerns remain about the effectiveness of the updates and whether they adequately address safety issues. Experts and advocates are calling for further investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to determine if Tesla has effectively reduced risks associated with using Autopilot.

This incident is just one of many involving Tesla vehicles operating on partially automated driving systems that have resulted in fatalities. The NHTSA has investigated numerous crashes involving Tesla vehicles and is also looking into incidents involving automated driving systems from other automakers. The need for regulatory intervention to ensure the safety of all road users is becoming increasingly apparent in light of these tragic events.