GoKawiilNHTSA opens probe into Comma.ai's openpilot driving assist after fatal crashes
US safety regulator NHTSA has launched an investigation into Comma.ai's aftermarket openpilot driver-assistance system following five reported crashes, two of them fatal, resulting in three deaths and up to 11 injuries. The agency says the incidents involved the system failing to detect or respond to slow or stopped vehicles ahead in the same lane, and notes some crashes may have involved modified 'forked' versions of the software, including one fatal Louisiana crash running a fork called FrogPilot.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The probe raises questions about how regulators oversee driver-assistance software that can be modified by third parties after leaving the original developer's control, which could complicate accountability if defects are found. It also adds Comma.ai to a growing list of hands-off driving systems facing federal scrutiny, potentially shaping how aftermarket autonomy products are regulated going forward.
- NHTSA is investigating Comma.ai's openpilot system after five crashes, including two fatal ones causing three deaths.
- Some crashes may involve 'forked' third-party versions of the software, complicating responsibility questions.
- Comma.ai and founder George Hotz, who stepped back from daily operations in 2022, have not yet responded to requests for comment.
Source: techcrunch.com — Sean O'Kane, 2026-09-23
Published there as: “Comma’s hands-off driving tech under investigation after 2 fatal crashes”
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