In a recent incident in Fullerton, a Tesla operating in "self-driving" mode crashed into an unoccupied police car during the early morning hours, according to the Fullerton Police Department. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but bodycam footage captured a dramatic scene as a police officer quickly moved out of harm's way.

The police officer was carrying out traffic management duties at the intersection of W. Orangethorpe Ave. and Courtney Ave. following a fatal traffic accident involving a motorcyclist. The police vehicle had activated its emergency lights and had placed flares on the road to block traffic.

Eyewitnesses state that it was at this moment when a blue Tesla collided with the stationary police car, endangering those at the scene. Thanks to the quick reactions of the police officer and an off-duty police dispatcher riding with them, a catastrophe was narrowly averted.

While the driver of the Tesla remains unidentified in the statement by Fullerton PD, they reportedly admitted to being on their cellphone at the time of the crash. The aftermath of the accident was captured by a local TV news station, revealing significant damage to both the Tesla and the police vehicle.

This incident raises questions about the safety of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature, which was recently renamed Full Self-Driving (Supervised) to emphasize that drivers should not rely solely on the technology. However, Tesla CEO Elon Musk's statements seem to contradict this cautionary message. At the recent Tesla shareholder's meeting in Austin, Texas, Musk highlighted the supposed safety of FSD.

Tesla has chosen not to comment on the accident, despite previous attempts to defend the safety of FSD by emphasizing that drivers should always remain attentive and responsible for the vehicle's operation. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of alertness and responsible driving, even when emergency lights are activated and the road appears blocked.

Fortunately, no one was injured in this collision, but it serves as a stark reminder that drivers must exercise caution and remain attentive while using advanced driver assistance systems or autonomous features.