Tesla in self-driving mode kills motorcyclist, driver arrested

A Tesla Model S operating in self-driving mode struck and killed a 28-year-old motorcyclist, Jeffrey Nissen, as the driver, admitted he was distracted, looking at his cellphone.

Washington State Patrol (WSP) reported that the accident occurred on April 19, eastbound on State Route 522 in Maltby, 25 miles from Seattle. The 56-year-old Tesla driver, who was arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide, told police he was not in full control of the car.

"Our laws govern our behavior even if a specific vehicle’s capacity offers options outside the law, safety, and courtesy.“ — Chris Loftis, WSP spokesman

Autonomous driving is not permitted in Washington, except for certified testing by NVIDIA, Waymo, and Zoox. Tesla's website warns that its autopilot and self-driving features require a fully attentive driver, responsible for staying alert and maintaining control.

>> Who was Jeffrey Nissen? Nissen's fiancé, Janae Hutchinson, shared their story with KIRO-TV, blaming the Tesla driver and urging Tesla to improve safety.

URLs:

• Washington State Patrol: https://www.wsp.wa.gov/
• Tesla: https://www.tesla.com/
• Tesla's article on Autopilot: https://www.tesla.com/support/autopilot#:~:text=To%20engage%20this%20feature%2C%20you,be%20downloaded%20via%20Wi%2DFi.
• Three Certified Companies in Washington: https://www.wsp.wa.gov/training/autonomous-vehicles
• KIRO-TV Report: https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/snohomish-county-woman-urges-safety-changes-after-tesla-autopilot-crashed-killed-fianc/W5775WNFGRF2RERDTMCPZGRGBM/