Understanding misuse of partially automated vehicles – a discussion of NTSB’s findings of the 2018 Mountain View Tesla Crash

This document discusses a fatal crash from March 23, 2018 involving a Tesla Model X using the partially automated 'Autopilot' function. It provides a critique of the NTSB's report and examines the findings from a human factors perspective to contribute towards an enhanced understanding of the circumstances related to this crash. It concludes with areas for open discussion, recommendations for future investigation and five findings of worthwhile of further consideration. • We question whether 'driver distraction' is an appropriate classification for a "probable cause" of the crash. • We disagree that "familiarization with the vehicle" was not a contributing factor related to this crash. • We question the conclusion that driver qualification was not a contributing factor related to this crash. • We highlight the need for regulatory bodies to ensure effective driver state monitoring and urge for regulation on minimum requirements for driver state monitoring in partially automated vehicles. • We highlight the importance of human-machine interface design in a human-machine shared system and urge for regulation on minimum requirements of such systems within partially automated vehicles. And in doing so we highlight the importance for a human factors perspective of such events.