The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a Preliminary Evaluation into comma.ai driving automation products after five crashes in which vehicles fitted with the company’s aftermarket devices struck stopped or slow-moving vehicles in the same lane, killing three people. The agency’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened investigation PE26007 this week. The investigation covers an estimated 30,000 comma three, comma 3X, and comma four devices and the company’s openpilot software. ODI says preliminary data suggests the comma system may not have adequately detected or responded to the in-lane vehicles.
Highlights
- Five crashes involving stopped or slow-moving in-lane vehicles prompted the investigation.
- Three fatalities resulted from two of the crashes. Four crashes injured 11 other people, some seriously.
- An estimated 30,000 units are in scope across comma three, comma 3X, and comma four hardware and openpilot software.
- openpilot forks involved in crashes will also be evaluated for components they share with openpilot.
What Prompted the Investigation?
ODI opened the probe based on crash reports submitted under Standing General Order 2021-01, a Vehicle Owner’s Questionnaire, and police outreach. In each of the five crashes, a vehicle with a comma device installed reportedly struck a stopped or slowly moving vehicle in its own travel lane.
ODI has confirmed that the comma systems were powered on or engaged in multiple crashes. Two crashes resulted in three deaths. Four of the five crashes caused non-fatal injuries, including serious injuries, to 11 other people.
The agency lists five SGO report IDs in its opening resume: 30351-15888, 30351-14668, 30351-11961, 30351-1807, and 62-14853. All five are available through NHTSA’s Standing General Order crash reporting page.
How Do comma Devices Work?
The comma devices are aftermarket accessories that add driving automation capability to an existing vehicle. They ship with wire harnesses that connect to the vehicle’s existing systems. The system combines the device’s cameras with the vehicle’s stock sensors to provide sustained automated control of speed and heading. Additional features are enabled by software loaded onto the devices.
comma sells the devices directly to consumers, and its setup instructions are intended for consumer installation. ODI’s resume cites the company’s website, which advertises that with its “step-by-step guide,” a consumer can “[g]et set up in your car in 15 minutes.” The site describes the devices as providing “hands free driving for the car you already have.”
The website calls openpilot “an open source advanced driver assistance system that works on 325+ car models” that “[c]an drive for hours without intervention.” It also states that “openpilot requires the driver to be alert, pay attention, and be ready to take over at all times.”
What Will the Preliminary Evaluation Examine?
ODI will use the Preliminary Evaluation to look further into incidents involving comma devices and openpilot. The focus is crashes involving slower or stopped vehicles or other hazards in the lane. Investigators will collect data to verify system status in each incident. They will also evaluate the system’s performance and the safeguards intended to ensure safe operation of equipped vehicles.
The investigation also reaches beyond comma’s own code. When modified software based on openpilot, known as a “fork,” is involved in a crash or other incident, ODI will evaluate the incident. It will also consider the components the fork shares with openpilot.
Neil Dold is the ODI investigator assigned to the case.
