Tesla Safety News: How Elon Musk's EVs Actually Saved Lives

For the past months or so, Elon Musk’s Tesla cars have been embattled by a number of safety concerns.

Early this year, the EV company agreed on a $13 million settlement when a former employee was struck by the Model S while working. The vehicle was also said to be running on autopilot. In an earlier incident, Tesla was also blamed by the family of slain Walter Huang, who died in 2018 after crashing his Tesla Model X along Highway 101 in Mountain View, California.

Despite the accidents, however, there are also a number of motorists who claim that their Tesla vehicles actually saved their lives while on the road. Recently, a Tesla Model 3 driver claimed that the EV’s instant torque and seamless acceleration actually saved him from what could have been a disastrous accident.

According to a report, INTELSAT chief architect Joel Trimble II was driving his Model 3 at the I-75 S in Atlanta when he noticed a rogue vehicle that was spinning out of control at the right side of the road he was traversing. The vehicle, a Honda Accord, slammed to a wall and careened towards Trimble.

In a matter of seconds, Trimble was able to disengage the autopilot, turned to the left and slammed on the accelerator. Tesla’s instant torque immediately kicked in and he was out of harm’s way immediately.

“Thank you for the torque on-demand to get me away from a runaway car @elonmusk @Tesla #100%torque very well have saved my life,” Trimble said in a tweet.

Last month, a Tesla Model S figured in a horrific highway accident in Norway which happened while the vehicle was on autopilot and switching lanes. The EV, which was doing 85 to 90kph, slammed into a stalled vehicle that was in front of it.

The driver, Peder Hulthin, actually credited the company’s autopilot as the factor that saved his life. Hulthin got away from the accident with only a few scratches.

“The car has without a doubt saved my life and Tesla’s engineering has done its job,” he said in an interview.

Back in April, Raghu Konka also claimed how Tesla’s autopilot saved him and his family from a disaster. In a dashcam video from his Model 3, it can be seen how an SUV suddenly swerved into his lane. Konka’s Tesla Model 3, which was on Autopilot mode, reacted immediately and avoided the incoming car before accelerating automatically to safety.

Konka said that he wasn’t sure if he would have reacted fast enough to avoid an incident if he wasn’t on autopilot.

Tesla’s autonomous driving capabilities will be further put into test once the Tesla fleet comes to life in the near future. The fleet is described as a group of self-driving cars that can transport people like a regular taxi starting next year. This option will be made available to Tesla car owners who also want to earn from owning an EV.