Comma’s hands-off driving tech under investigation after 2 fatal crashes
The investigation involves at least some crashes where it appears drivers were using "forked" versions of Comma's software.
Comma.ai, a tech startup led by hacker George Hotz, is currently under federal investigation following five reported crashes involving its hands-off driver assistance technology. Two of those crashes resulted in three deaths. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) revealed that the crashes involved Comma devices failing to detect or respond to slow or stopped vehicles in the same lane.
Four of the crashes resulted in injuries to up to 11 people, some of whom suffered serious injuries. Some of the crashes may have involved modified versions of Comma's software, according to the ODI. Hotz, who distanced himself from the company's day-to-day operations in 2022, has not yet commented. Comma.ai manufactures devices that can be installed in various modern cars, including those that can control Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Automated Lane Centering (ALC) systems, aiming to make driving more comfortable.
The company's software, "openpilot," can steer, accelerate, and brake automatically for vehicles within its lane. However, just like Tesla and GM, Comma.ai cautions drivers to always be ready to take manual control by stepping on the pedals or pressing the cancel button. The company's driver monitoring system is designed to detect distracted or tired drivers.
One of the fatal crashes reportedly happened in February 2026 in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, where a 2022 Toyota RAV4 equipped with a third-party fork of Comma's software struck a stopped first responder vehicle, resulting in the deaths of two rear-seat passengers.
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