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A self-driving Tesla Model 3 collided with a train in Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania, over the weekend. The incident occurred when the vehicle, reportedly in self-driving mode, turned onto a railroad track near South Hull Street and Columbia Avenue and became stuck. Fortunately, the three occupants exited the vehicle before the train struck it, causing minor damage, including a broken side mirror.
According to Electrek, emergency services halted train traffic to safely remove the Tesla from the tracks using a crane. The driver claimed the car was in self-driving mode, a feature Tesla offers through its Full Self-Driving (FSD) package, which requires driver supervision at all times. Despite Tesla's claims that vehicles built since 2016 can eventually achieve unsupervised self-driving, this capability has not yet been realized.
The incident raises ongoing concerns about the safety and reliability of self-driving technology. There have been previous instances where Tesla drivers have attributed mishaps to the FSD system. The investigation into this incident may provide further insights into the challenges of autonomous driving technology.