The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently investigating whether Tesla's recall of its Autopilot driving system last year was effective in ensuring that drivers pay attention to the road. The recall, which affected over 2 million vehicles, was prompted by concerns about the driver monitoring system's ability to measure torque on the steering wheel from a driver's hands. Despite a software update being issued to increase warnings to drivers, the NHTSA has found evidence of crashes occurring after the fix, with Tesla adding updates that were not part of the recall.

The investigation also includes concerns about the name “Autopilot” potentially misleading drivers about the system's capabilities, leading to over-reliance on the automation. This comes just a week after a Tesla operating on Autopilot was involved in a crash that resulted in the death of a motorcyclist near Seattle. The driver of the Tesla, who admitted to using Autopilot and looking at his cellphone at the time of the crash, has been arrested for investigation of vehicular homicide.

Safety advocates have long expressed concerns about Autopilot not being designed for use on roads other than limited access highways. The NHTSA's investigation will evaluate the recall's effectiveness in addressing misuse, confusion, and use in environments not suited for the system. Experts have highlighted the need for night-vision cameras to monitor drivers' eyes to ensure they are paying sufficient attention to the road.

The investigation follows Tesla's reluctant agreement to the recall last year after the NHTSA found the driver monitoring system to be defective. The NHTSA has been investigating crashes involving partially and fully automated driving systems, including Tesla's Autopilot, after reports of incidents where vehicles using the system collided with parked emergency vehicles and other obstacles, resulting in fatalities. The agency is also looking into crashes involving automated driving systems from other automakers, including Ford.

The family of the motorcyclist killed in the recent Tesla crash near Seattle is now preparing for his funeral, with his sister urging drivers to remain attentive while on the road. The driver involved in the crash has been arrested as part of a vehicular homicide investigation, with authorities still verifying whether Autopilot was in use at the time of the incident. The investigation is ongoing, with questions raised about the effectiveness of the recall and the need for regulatory intervention to ensure the safety of all road users.