Tesla’s autonomous driving technology has come under scrutiny again following two fatal accidents in the recent period. Reports shared by Electrek indicate that Level 2 driver assistance systems were active in the vehicles during the accidents.

It was determined that these systems were active in the 30 seconds before the accident. The incidents in question occurred as a result of vehicles suddenly stopping on the highway and colliding with other vehicles coming from behind.

Vehicles stopped on the highway and accident details

The first accident occurred on October 31, 2025, in Mesa, Arizona. A Tesla sedan was severely damaged after being struck from behind by a Ford F-350 truck while stopped in the middle of the highway.

The second incident occurred on October 6, 2025, in Seminole County, Florida. A 2020 Tesla Model 3 was thrown off course after being struck from behind by a truck while stopped in the middle lane of I-4.

The collision resulted in the vehicle making contact with another truck in the adjacent lane, creating a major accident. In both incidents, the drivers in the vehicles lost their lives.

According to Tesla’s accident reports, in the Florida accident, the vehicle’s autonomous driving technology was listed as “Verified Circuit.” The report stated the pre-accident movement status as “Stopped” and the speed as 0 miles per hour.

This raises questions about why the vehicles suddenly stopped during peak highway hours. Experts suggest that the previously documented “ghost braking” issue may have played a role in these accidents.

Ghost braking is a condition where the system detects non-existent obstacles, causing sudden, hard braking. However, it is also considered that these accidents may have occurred due to drivers experiencing health problems or falling asleep.

Confidentiality in reports and investigation process

Tesla prefers to share accident reports with critical information redacted on the grounds of “trade secrecy.” Information such as the accident description, the software version used, and whether the road was within the system’s approved operating range are held.

Because of this redaction, it is not possible to determine whether the vehicles were in Autopilot or the more advanced Full Self-Driving mode at the time. The lack of information makes it difficult to determine the root cause of the accidents.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) continues to investigate how Tesla reports accidents involving its Level 2 driver assistance systems. Tesla has been criticized in the past for exaggerating the capabilities of these systems.

The investigation into the company’s accident reporting processes deepens the debate about the system’s reliability. The fact that autonomous driving technologies are far from perfect is once again highlighted by these tragic events.

Drivers’ over-reliance on these technologies leads them to assume they can handle any situation. It turns out that current systems are insufficient to provide complete protection in all kinds of unexpected road conditions.

What are your thoughts on the safety of such technological systems?