Elon Musk Offers Perspective on Traffic Deaths in Response to Tesla Police Car Crash

This message would be in line with Musk’s previous statements. When discussing the first Autopilot crash in Utah, Musk said that “it’s super messed up that a Tesla crash resulting in a broken ankle is front page news and the ~40,000 people who died in US auto accidents alone in past year get almost no coverage.”

Twitter users agree

For the most part, his followers seem to be in agreement. Some posted stories of accidents they had been in they said would have been avoided with a Tesla while others complained about the media's habit of using scare tactics.

Had this conversation with my dad when he sent me this. We were in a small accident when i was a kid, for sure a Tesla would have prevented it

— Joshua J B Saunders (@jjbsaunders) May 31, 2018

Twitter users even went so far as to call the media "witch hunters" and requested that they stop attacking Musk and Tesla. The posters seemed convinced that Autopilot actually saves lives.

In no universe could I ever afford a Tesla, but if I could it's the first car that comes to mind that I would buy and I am not even a car dude. The media are modern day witch hunters.

— Paul Melia (@PaulMeliamusic) May 31, 2018

People need to see this perspective; how many lives has Tesla’s autopilot saved because it’s detected an imminent crash and moved to avoid it? It’s a hell of a lot more than the number of people who have died in a Tesla. The media needs to stop attacking @elonmusk

— Rhys *204 Days* (@RhysBoyce) May 31, 2018

Some people did explore the other side of the argument saying it might be good to keep the cars off the road till more studies are done. However, the overwhelming responses seemed to be in favor of Musk's views.

What you are saying is based on thin air. You can debate on the pros and cons of self driving, but your comment is biased by the will to protect a product.
Incidents are normal, but a proper study shall be made to discuss if taking it out of the market till later coule be good

— kristiano (@PriftiKristiano) 31 May 2018

This month saw two US rights groups send a letter to the Federal Trade Commission demanding the body investigate Tesla over the marketing of their "Autopilot" software. The groups claimed the Autopilot name was "deceptive and misleading."

"The marketing and advertising practices of Tesla, combined with Elon Musk's public statements, have made it reasonable for Tesla owners to believe, and act on that belief, that a Tesla with Autopilot is an autonomous vehicle capable of 'self-driving'," said the Center for Auto Safety and Consumer Watchdog in the letter.