Rachel Maddow's analysis reveals a significant aspect of Donald Trump's recent move. It was pointed out that this action is seemingly a "problem solved" only for Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk. As of October 15, 2024, Tesla accounted for 40 out of the 45 fatal crashes reported by the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA). During her show "The Rachel Maddow Show" on Monday, Maddow emphasized this, asking if 40 out of 45 fatal incidents sounds bad for Tesla.Trump's Tactics and Their Implications
It was further noted that Trump's intervention to seemingly save Musk, who has donated at least $260 million to Trump's reelection and is leading the president-elect's DOGE advisory body, is merely a tactic to spare the top 1%. Maddow sarcastically continued, outlining the numerous injuries and fatal accidents caused by Tesla's auto-pilot-able cars. Stopping the collection of excessive data was presented as a solution, but it only benefits Tesla and Musk while leaving others affected. For instance, the Contra County firefighters in the truck, the eight kids in the Thanksgiving Day tunnel crash, and the 10th grader sent to the hospital after being hit by a Tesla are still facing the consequences.Background on the Mandate and Its Removal
Maddow's remarks followed the news that the president-elect's team intends to remove a mandate requiring companies to report automated vehicle crash data. Musk opposes this mandate as he claims his company is being targeted. This is also the subject of NHTSA's investigations, with three investigations spawned from crash reporting data. In 2022 on Thanksgiving Day, Musk announced that Tesla car owners could choose to put their vehicles into self-driving mode. The Full Self-Driving Beta model was made available to North American car owners. However, a few hours later, a multi-car crash occurred on the Bay Bridge of San Francisco, caused by a Tesla's self-driving feature suddenly pressing its brakes in the tunnel. As of October 2024, the auto-pilot mode has resulted in 51 reported fatalities, according to tesladeaths.com. In November, Trump assigned Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) advisory committee.Analysis of the Consequences
This move by Trump has far-reaching consequences. It not only affects the safety data reporting but also has implications for public safety and the trust in autonomous vehicle technology. Tesla's dominance in fatal crashes raises questions about the safety of its self-driving features. The removal of the mandate could lead to a lack of transparency and make it difficult to assess the true safety record of autonomous vehicles. It also shows the influence of big business and political connections in shaping regulatory decisions. The incidents and actions highlight the need for a more comprehensive and objective approach to regulating autonomous vehicles to ensure the safety of all road users.
