The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched a Comma AI investigation following a series of crashes tied to the startup’s aftermarket driver-assistance devices.
According to the agency, a preliminary probe opened on September 21 will examine collisions where vehicles equipped with Comma AI systems hit slow-moving or stationary vehicles in their lanes. Regulators said five crashes left 11 people injured and three dead, based on findings from the Office of Defects Investigation.
Investigators wrote that ODI has verified the systems were powered on or engaged in multiple incidents, and early data suggests the Comma AI system may have failed to adequately detect or react to vehicles ahead. The review will also look at which software versions were running during each crash, including whether some vehicles used modified forks of the company’s open-source code.
Scope of the Comma AI investigation
The probe covers the company’s comma three, comma 3X, comma four, and OpenPilot software. Comma AI markets an add-on device intended to bring advanced driver-assistance features to more than 325 compatible car models. The company’s website says the system can steer, accelerate, and brake, and that it can operate for extended periods without driver input.
It also instructs motorists to remain attentive and ready to take control, and includes a driver-monitoring feature that issues alerts when it detects distraction.
One crash referenced in federal materials appears consistent with a February incident in Louisiana. A state police report described a Toyota RAV4 striking an unoccupied police vehicle stopped in a highway lane with emergency lights activated, resulting in two passenger fatalities.
The report did not identify the specific driving software used.
Regulatory context and prior probes
Other automated driving technologies have drawn scrutiny in recent years. In 2021, the safety agency examined Tesla’s Autopilot after vehicles reportedly collided with cars at first-responder scenes.
A separate open investigation involves Waymo after one of its vehicles struck a child near a Santa Monica school. In July, regulators issued a broader advisory to driverless-vehicle developers about entering emergency scenes or obstructing ambulances and fire services.
Comma AI’s own support documentation lists stationary vehicles in the same lane as a condition that can affect OpenPilot’s adaptive cruise control. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.