Comma.ai's driving tech under federal investigation after fatal crashes
Comma.ai, a startup known for its hands-off driver assistance technology, is facing an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) following five reported crashes involving its devices. Two of these incidents resulted in three deaths and up to eleven injuries across four cases. The NHTSA found that Comma's system failed to detect or respond appropriately to slow-moving or stopped vehicles on the road, raising serious safety concerns. The investigation also suggests some accidents involved modified versions of Comma.ai’s open-source software called 'openpilot.' Founded in 2015 by George Hotz, the company markets its devices as a way to enhance driving experience with features similar to Tesla Autopilot and GM Super Cruise. However, like other driver-assistance systems, it requires drivers to remain alert and ready to take control at any time. One fatal crash occurred in February 2026 when a Toyota RAV4 using FrogPilot — a third-party fork of openpilot — collided with a stopped first responder vehicle. The incident resulted in two deaths among rear-seat passengers, as reported by Louisiana State Police.
Topics: autonomous_driving federal_regulation vehicle_safety