Five Ways To Prevent Your Tesla From Killing You

Teslas have been identified as the most likely cars, across all models, to have a fatal accident. Five easy practices could turn this liability into a safety asset.

While Tesla is generally considered a very safe car, iSeeCars reported that Teslas have the highest rate of accidents that result in at least one death. Now that is across the entire brand, and while you might connect this to Tesla’s being electric, the most dangerous cars and trucks to drive are the Hyundai Venue, Chevrolet Corvette, Honda CR-V Hybrid, Nissan Frontier, and the Ford Ranger, none of which are purely electric and only one of which is a hybrid. So, it is something other than the power train that likely makes these cars deadly, and there are several things relatively unique to Tesla cars.

First, they use electronic locks, which have proven deadly in Tesla fires because, in a fire, the electronics fail and lock people in their cars; second, they are relatively unique in putting most all functions on a central touchscreen display. Third, they use a very aggressive camber, resulting in tires that look good on the outside tread but are unsafe on the inside. Fourth, they have versions that have power over what the average driver is used to, and fifth, they over-promote their level 2+ cruise control as autonomous driving, resulting in a big gap between what people think the technology will do and what it is capable of.  

Several remedies come to mind to prevent accidents or events that result in death.

Learn How To Open Your Doors Manually

This isn’t the same in every Tesla, and if you are in a Model Y that is on its roof, good luck getting out of the back doors. Fortunately, Model Ys don’t seem to end up on their roof very often, so this doesn’t seem to have happened, but knowing how to open the doors or trunk from inside the car and making sure your family does as well in an accident could make the difference between everyone surviving and a lifetime of regret.

Some cars are pretty easy to open, while others require you to pull off covers or look under the seats. Knowing which method works in your car is something everyone in it needs to know, given that most will pull on the door release lever and just panic in an accident, which typically doesn’t end well.

Be Aware The Central Display Is A Huge Distraction

We aren’t allowed to use our smartphones or tablets while driving because, when we do, we get into accidents. Well, the same thing can happen if we start fiddling with the controls and menus on the Tesla display. It is basically just a big tablet and a huge distraction. Tesla did some unusual things, like putting the electronic seat controls in that display and not disabling them while driving.

I discovered this when I was driving a Tesla Model S, and my wife decided that since I’d borrowed the car, I was a “guest” and should use that personalization function. Sadly, the last “guest” had been tall, and, at freeway speeds, I was nearly pushed back into the back of the car (the seatbelt holding me securely) and no longer able to reach the steering wheel.

To avoid related accidents, ignore the display as much as possible, and don’t do things like adjust the seats while driving that could cause an accident. Also, keep the kids from messing with it while you are driving.

Regularly Check The Inside Tread Of Your Tires

Tesla isn’t the only one that uses aggressive camber to improve cornering; this is also often done with performance cars. But recognizing that with aggressive camber, you not only get better cornering but also uneven and aggressive tire wear. Just make it a habit to regularly check the tread depth on the inside treads of your car so you can replace the tires when they need it rather than getting a blowout, which nobody needs.

Don’t Let Inexperienced Drivers Drive Your Car

I watch many YouTube videos on accidents, and many of those videos are from Teslas, thanks to their built-in dash camera. Often, these accidents occur because someone is driving unsafely, and many of those people are kids who are out for fun and aren’t thinking about the consequences. This massive power helps them get into trouble. No one wants a dead kid, so I’d suggest you don’t loan your Tesla out, mainly if it is a performance model. Whoever borrows it likely won’t be used to the power; they’ll want to feel that incredible acceleration and likely end up wrecking it.

Use Autopilot Responsibly

Tesla Autopilot is a decent Level 2+ cruise control system. It is not fully self-driving; this is why, when using it, you need to keep your hands on the wheel and remain focused on the road. This is not a tool you can use while reading, playing video games, or napping, regardless of what Musk seems to imply. It isn’t ready yet, and buying things that bypass the safety measures will only get you into an accident or a prime plot in your least favorite mortuary. If you, and anyone who uses your car, use Tesla Autopilot responsibly, you should be fine. Don’t pretend or let anyone else pretend that this technology is genuinely autonomous, yet it is not.  

Wrapping Up:

While this report implies that Teslas are incredibly dangerous as a family of cars, there are a lot of cars on the road that are more dangerous than they are. However, Teslas do have some unique safety issues that can be mitigated by knowing about them and making sure anyone you loan your car to is sufficiently mature and informed so that the car won’t kill them.

Like with all machines, training in safety practices (like knowing how to open a door or trunk without power) can make a huge difference, as can just practicing driving safely. Treating a Tesla respectfully means it can be safer (built very solid) than any other car. I suggest you treat your Tesla with respect.

Rob Enderle is a technology analyst at Torque News who covers automotive technology and battery development. You can learn more about Rob on Wikipedia and follow his articles on Forbes, X, and LinkedIn.