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"With a track record of zero deaths or serious, permanent injuries since our vehicles went into production six years ago, there is no safer car on the road than

by kzahel 13y ago

"With a track record of zero deaths or serious, permanent injuries since our vehicles went into production six years ago, there is no safer car on the road than a Tesla." I recall one Tesla caused death[1], and I'm sure there have been more. Not that I really think Tesla is any more dangerous than any other car in this regard though. [1] http://blog.sfgate.com/energy/2014/02/07/tesla-driver-blames-fatal-crash-on-new-car-smell/ http://blog.sfgate.com/energy/2014/02/07/tesla-driver-blames...

deleted 13y ago
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damon_c 13y ago
Just checking... did you read that article? It says the car's "new car smell" caused the driver to suddenly fall asleep and kill a cyclist. Not sure if the car was actually at fault there...
- empoman 13y ago
  It actually says that the driver claimed that it was the reason. "He told officers that the car had a strong, new-car smell that prompted him to use a baking soda car freshener in it. Jain told authorities that the smell caused him to fall asleep and there were no mechanical problems with the car..." But you're probably correct that the car was not at fault, the driver was probably just grasping for straws.
Gustomaximus 13y ago
For those that don't follow the link, this death was a cyclist hit by a Tesla driver. Not a car occupant so I feel the claim is valid as someone hitting a cyclist is largely out of their control until/if they move to driverless models.
DEinspanjer 13y ago
It is a sad truth that there has been at least one traffic accident involving a Tesla Model S that caused two deaths, and I suspect probably several others. The obvious difference is that the deaths weren't people in the Tesla but rather the people in the other vehicles. The Model S is a frightening concept in a major collision. It has crumple zones and all those wonderful safety features like air bags and such that make it considerably safer on the inside, but on the outside, it is significantly heavier than many other cars on the road, it has a very low center of gravity and a very evenly distributed mass which means no matter what angle of impact, the other car is likely to end up a crumpled heap. :/ If you look at some of the photos on the forums or the web, you can't help but wince and hope that the people in the other car survived, let alone walked away.
stevewilber 13y ago
There was also this[1] accident where a Tesla utterly destroyed an Accord in a head-on collision. Again, the fatalities were not occupants of the Tesla. The Model S weighs roughly the same as a midsize SUV. I wonder if the difference in weight distribution makes it more or less dangerous for the other car in an accident. [1] http://jalopnik.com/tesla-model-s-driver-veers-into-oncoming-traffic-kills-466292380/all http://jalopnik.com/tesla-model-s-driver-veers-into-oncoming...

by kzahel 13y ago

deleted 13y ago

[deleted]

damon_c 13y ago

Just checking... did you read that article? It says the car's "new car smell" caused the driver to suddenly fall asleep and kill a cyclist. Not sure if the car was actually at fault there...

empoman 13y ago
It actually says that the driver claimed that it was the reason. "He told officers that the car had a strong, new-car smell that prompted him to use a baking soda car freshener in it. Jain told authorities that the smell caused him to fall asleep and there were no mechanical problems with the car..." But you're probably correct that the car was not at fault, the driver was probably just grasping for straws.

Gustomaximus 13y ago

For those that don't follow the link, this death was a cyclist hit by a Tesla driver. Not a car occupant so I feel the claim is valid as someone hitting a cyclist is largely out of their control until/if they move to driverless models.

DEinspanjer 13y ago

It is a sad truth that there has been at least one traffic accident involving a Tesla Model S that caused two deaths, and I suspect probably several others. The obvious difference is that the deaths weren't people in the Tesla but rather the people in the other vehicles. The Model S is a frightening concept in a major collision. It has crumple zones and all those wonderful safety features like air bags and such that make it considerably safer on the inside, but on the outside, it is significantly heavier than many other cars on the road, it has a very low center of gravity and a very evenly distributed mass which means no matter what angle of impact, the other car is likely to end up a crumpled heap. :/ If you look at some of the photos on the forums or the web, you can't help but wince and hope that the people in the other car survived, let alone walked away.

stevewilber 13y ago

There was also this[1] accident where a Tesla utterly destroyed an Accord in a head-on collision. Again, the fatalities were not occupants of the Tesla. The Model S weighs roughly the same as a midsize SUV. I wonder if the difference in weight distribution makes it more or less dangerous for the other car in an accident. [1] http://jalopnik.com/tesla-model-s-driver-veers-into-oncoming-traffic-kills-466292380/all http://jalopnik.com/tesla-model-s-driver-veers-into-oncoming...