Tesla Cameras Fail to Detect Pedestrians: A Real Threat Behind Autonomous Tech

Tesla’s Cameras and the Risk of Collision

Amid Tesla’s bold vision to revolutionize self-driving cars without LiDAR, multiple independent tests have exposed a darker reality behind Elon Musk’s “camera-only” approach. Studies show that Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system has failed to detect critical objects such as pedestrians and children. The cameras used basic CMOS sensors struggle in real-world conditions, especially in poor weather, low light, or when objects fall outside the neural network’s training data.

Test Data and Alarming Findings

Consumer Reports and AAA conducted real-life simulations where a Tesla Model 3 equipped with FSD ran straight into child-sized mannequins without braking. Similarly, tests by the Dawn Project revealed repeated failures of the FSD to avoid pedestrian dummies. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched over 40 investigations into Tesla crashes involving Autopilot, several of which resulted in fatalities.

Criticism of Tesla Vision

Tesla’s system uses eight external cameras with relatively low-grade CMOS sensors, none of which feature automatic cleaning. Although supported by Tesla’s Dojo AI network, the cameras face clear limitations in resolution, depth perception, and detection of small or fast-moving objects. With no radar or LiDAR for redundancy, all safety decisions rely solely on software, which, in practice, remains unreliable on public roads.

Call for Regulation and Transparency

Experts are calling for stricter regulations on FSD deployment. Labeling it “Full Self-Driving” is seen as misleading since the system has yet to reach true Level 4 or 5 autonomy. Regulatory bodies in the U.S. and abroad now face a crucial choice: foster innovation or protect human lives.

Innovation or Danger?

While the camera-only model may offer cost efficiency and scalability, the safety risks are simply too great to ignore. Musk continues to place faith in AI to overcome hardware limitations, but real-world incidents suggest otherwise—human lives could become casualties in the name of unproven technology.