Tesla has released its most comprehensive safety data report to date, responding to recent calls for greater transparency in the autonomous driving industry. The move comes weeks after Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO of Waymo, publicly challenged companies to share detailed fleet performance metrics at TechCrunch Disrupt.
The new report, published on Tesla’s website, claims that drivers using the company’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software experience significantly fewer collisions than the national average. According to Tesla’s data, drivers travel approximately 2.9 million miles between major collisions and 986,000 miles between minor collisions. In comparison, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics show drivers experience major collisions every 505,000 miles and minor collisions every 178,000 miles.
Key Findings:
- Major Collisions: Tesla FSD users experience major collisions after 2.9 million miles driven, versus 505,000 miles for all drivers.
- Minor Collisions: Tesla FSD users travel 986,000 miles between minor collisions, compared to 178,000 miles for all drivers.
- Data Transparency: Tesla is now defining its collision metrics based on Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (49 C.F.R. § 563.5). Major collisions are defined as events triggering airbag deployment.
Context and Significance:
The release of this data is a direct response to industry pressure, particularly from Waymo, which has consistently published detailed safety statistics for its robotaxi fleet. Mawakana’s challenge at Disrupt underscored the need for greater accountability in autonomous driving development. Waymo’s data indicates its vehicles are approximately five times safer than human drivers, and twelve times safer regarding pedestrian incidents.
Tesla’s Methodology:
Tesla defines collisions based on airbag deployment, a standardized measure of impact severity. The company includes crashes in its dataset if Full Self-Driving (FSD) was active within five seconds of the incident, ensuring a comprehensive view of system-related events.
Future Updates:
Tesla commits to quarterly data updates, reflecting a rolling twelve-month aggregation of miles and collisions. The company states it will not release injury rates, relying instead on objective metrics like collision frequency and airbag deployment rates.
Industry Implications:
This report marks a shift toward greater transparency in the autonomous driving sector. While Tesla has historically been criticized for insufficient safety reporting, this move demonstrates a willingness to address industry concerns. The ongoing debate about data disclosure highlights the importance of accountability as autonomous vehicles become more prevalent.
Conclusion:
Tesla’s release of detailed safety data is a significant step toward greater transparency in the autonomous driving industry. By responding to industry pressure and providing concrete metrics, the company aims to demonstrate the safety benefits of its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software. The move underscores the growing demand for accountability as autonomous vehicles become more integrated into public roads
