Tech • AI • Robotics
Big 3” Fake News Outlets Go After Tesla on the Same Day!?!
5/10TL;DR
Australian television coverage of two Melbourne crashes and a separate report on autonomous driving put Tesla at the center of headlines and narration, even as police said there was no evidence the vehicle’s self-driving systems caused the fatal incident.
KEY POINTS
Fatal crash near Westfield Knox
A 27-year-old woman was killed near Westfield Knox in Melbourne after being struck by a Tesla driven by a woman in her 50s. Police said the driver failed to give way at a pedestrian crossing before the vehicle mounted the grass and crashed into a restaurant support structure. A patron inside the restaurant suffered minor injuries, while the driver and a passenger were taken to hospital in stable condition.
Police found no sign of autonomous involvement
In the immediate aftermath, investigators sought CCTV and dashcam footage and said they were examining speed and the sequence of events. Police also stated there was nothing at that stage to suggest Tesla technology or self-driving capability played a role in the collision. The driver remained assisting police with inquiries.
Second serious incident nearby
Roughly the same day and only a short distance away, an 80-year-old woman was struck by a bus while crossing the road near the shopping center. She suffered multiple fractures or lower-body injuries and was taken to The Alfred Hospital, where reports described her condition as serious but later stable. Police said the two incidents were not linked and there was no malicious intent indicated in either case.
Brand-focused framing drew scrutiny
Coverage across major commercial broadcasters repeatedly used the word Tesla in headlines and opening lines, including phrases such as an “out-of-control Tesla,” while the bus crash was generally described without a manufacturer label. That contrast raised questions about whether brand identification was being used selectively when Tesla was involved, particularly in a case where authorities pointed to driver behavior rather than automated driving.
Broader segment examined self-driving liability
A separate report asked who is to blame when a self-driving car crashes, using clips of vehicles drifting, braking suddenly and making awkward lane changes. The report noted that in Australia only Level 2 automation is permitted, meaning the vehicle may steer, brake and accelerate, but the human driver must stay engaged and ready to take control at all times.
Australian rules place responsibility on the driver
The liability question was answered clearly in the segment itself: under Australian insurance and road rules, the driver remains responsible when using current driver-assistance systems. That is a critical distinction because Level 2 features are not legally treated as fully autonomous driving, regardless of marketing language or public perception.
Mixed performance of driver-assistance systems
Footage used in the report showed both limitations and successful interventions. Examples included a vehicle braking to avoid a stopped car, changing lanes awkwardly, and stopping for wildlife at night, including a kangaroo. Owners cited roundabouts and dense urban road rules as persistent trouble spots, while saying the systems tend to perform better on long highway stretches between cities and regional centers.
Autonomous rollout remains limited
The report said Australia is still years away from fully autonomous motoring and currently allows only partial automation. Higher levels, in which the car assumes more responsibility, remain restricted, while a more advanced autonomous rollout in select areas is expected from 2027. For now, the legal and operational framework keeps the burden on human supervision.
CONCLUSION
The Melbourne crashes underscored both the human stakes of road safety and the sensitivity around how emerging vehicle technology is reported. With police emphasizing driver responsibility and no early evidence of autonomous involvement, the distinction between a car brand and a driver’s actions remains central to accurate coverage.
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