Federal authorities have revealed that Tesla's Autopilot system has been linked to at least 467 collisions, with 13 resulting in fatalities and numerous others causing serious injuries. The findings were published in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) analysis of 956 crashes involving Tesla vehicles where Autopilot was suspected to be in use.

According to the NHTSA report released on Friday, a "critical safety gap" in the design of Tesla's Autopilot system has led to foreseeable misuse and avoidable crashes. The report also highlighted that the system did not adequately ensure driver attention and appropriate use, contributing to the accidents.

The investigation conducted over a period of nearly three years identified 13 fatal collisions, resulting in the tragic deaths of 14 individuals. In response, the NHTSA has announced a new probe into the effectiveness of a software update issued by Tesla as part of a recall in December. The update was intended to address the Autopilot defects identified in the investigation.

The recall, which covered 2 million Tesla vehicles in the United States and was delivered through an over-the-air software update, aimed to enhance the driver monitoring systems in vehicles equipped with Autopilot. However, the NHTSA report suggests that the software update may have been inadequate, as additional crashes linked to Autopilot have continued to be reported.

One recent incident involved a Tesla driver in Snohomish County, Washington, who struck and killed a motorcyclist on April 19 while reportedly using Autopilot. These findings add to a series of reports from regulators and watchdogs questioning the safety of Tesla's Autopilot technology.

Tesla's Autopilot system, promoted by the company as a key differentiator from other automakers, is designed to reduce driver workload through advanced cruise control and automatic steering technology, according to the company's website. However, the NHTSA report emphasized the need for Tesla to restrict the Autopilot feature to the roads it was designed for, a sentiment echoed by Senators Edward J. Markey and Richard Blumenthal.

The senators issued a statement following the release of the report, urging federal regulators to take necessary actions to prevent Tesla vehicles with Autopilot from endangering lives. On its Owner's Manual website, Tesla already warns drivers against operating the Autosteer function in areas with bicyclists or pedestrians.

Tesla has yet to respond to the NHTSA report or provide any comments on the matter. The company recently settled a lawsuit related to the death of Walter Huang, an Apple engineer, and father of two, who died in a crash involving a Tesla Model X with Autopilot features switched on. The terms of the settlement were kept confidential.

Despite these safety concerns, Tesla and CEO Elon Musk have indicated that the company's future relies heavily on autonomous driving. Musk stated during Tesla's earnings call that those who doubt Tesla's ability to solve autonomy should not invest in the company, emphasizing their commitment to self-driving technology.

However, critics have raised concerns over Musk's claims and the lack of third-party review of Tesla's data. In response to the NHTSA report, Philip Koopman, an automotive safety researcher and associate professor of computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, highlighted the need for Tesla to address the agency's concerns and implement measures to improve safety.

"People are dying due to misplaced confidence in Tesla Autopilot capabilities. Even simple steps could improve safety," Koopman said. "Tesla could automatically restrict Autopilot use to intended roads based on map data already in the vehicle. Tesla could improve monitoring so drivers can't routinely become absorbed in their cellphones while Autopilot is in use."

The NHTSA's findings underscore the pressing need for Tesla to address the safety issues associated with their Autopilot system, ensuring the technology performs as intended while prioritizing driver attention and appropriate use.