| Recurring |
unknown |
<Article 103959> does not mention any specific information about the software failure incident happening again at either the same organization (Tesla) or at multiple organizations. Therefore, the information related to the recurrence of the software failure incident is unknown based on this article. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident in the article can be attributed to the design phase. The incident occurred because the Tesla Model 3's wiper controls were designed to be operated through the central touchscreen rather than a traditional lever on the steering wheel. This design decision led to the driver being distracted while trying to adjust the wiper speed, ultimately resulting in a crash [103959].
(b) Additionally, the software failure incident can also be linked to the operation phase. The driver was found to be distracted by the touchscreen controls while driving, which led to him veering out of his lane and crashing into an embankment and trees. This distraction during the operation of the vehicle highlights how the misuse or operation of the system contributed to the failure incident [103959]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident in the article is related to the Tesla Model 3's touchscreen wiper controls. The driver was distracted by the touchscreen controls for adjusting the wiper speed, which led to the driver veering out of his lane and crashing into an embankment and trees. The court determined that the touchscreen controls required significantly more attention from the driver than a traditional lever setup, emphasizing the driver's responsibility to keep their eyes on the road despite the design of the software interface [103959].
(b) outside_system: The contributing factors that led to the software failure incident, in this case, can be attributed to external regulations and legal interpretations regarding the use of electronic devices while driving. The court's decision to treat the Tesla's touchscreen controls as a distracting electronic device under the law designed to combat mobile phone use played a significant role in the outcome of the incident. The driver's actions were judged based on existing rules about device usage while driving, emphasizing the importance of considering road conditions, traffic, visibility, and weather when interacting with electronic devices [103959]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions:
The software failure incident in this case was not directly attributed to non-human actions. The incident was related to the design of the Tesla Model 3's touchscreen wiper controls, which required the driver to interact with the touchscreen to adjust the wiper speed, leading to distraction and ultimately a crash [103959].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions:
The software failure incident in this case was primarily attributed to human actions. The driver was found to have veered out of his lane and crashed into an embankment and trees while being distracted by the touchscreen controls of the Tesla Model 3, which required manual adjustment for wiper speed [103959]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The software failure incident in the article is related to hardware. The incident involved a Tesla driver facing consequences after being distracted by the touchscreen controls for the wipers, which are part of the car's hardware system. The driver's attention was diverted to the touchscreen, leading to a crash into an embankment and trees [103959].
(b) The software failure incident in the article is also related to software. The Tesla Model 3's wiper controls required the driver to navigate software menus on the touchscreen to adjust the interval settings, which contributed to the distraction and ultimately the crash. The court highlighted that the touchscreen interface required significantly more attention from the driver compared to a traditional lever setup, indicating a software-related usability issue [103959]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
non-malicious |
(a) The software failure incident in the provided article is non-malicious. The incident involved a driver facing consequences for being distracted by the Tesla's touchscreen controls while driving in the rain. The driver was found to have veered out of his lane and crashed into an embankment and trees due to being distracted by the touchscreen controls for adjusting the wipers [103959]. The failure was attributed to the design of the Tesla's touchscreen controls requiring significant attention from the driver, leading to the accident. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions, accidental_decisions |
(a) The intent of the software failure incident related to poor_decisions:
- The software failure incident in the Tesla car involved the touchscreen wiper controls, which required the driver to navigate software menus and choose from one of five settings on the touchscreen while driving, leading to distraction and ultimately causing an accident [103959].
(b) The intent of the software failure incident related to accidental_decisions:
- The driver's use of the Tesla's touchscreen wiper controls while driving was deemed distracting and led to the driver veering out of his lane, driving into an embankment and trees, resulting in a crash. The driver's actions were considered accidental decisions that contributed to the failure [103959]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The software failure incident in the article can be attributed to development incompetence. The incident occurred because the Tesla Model 3's wiper controls were designed in a way that required the driver to navigate software menus on the touchscreen to adjust the wiper speed, leading to distraction and ultimately causing an accident. The court noted that the touchscreen setup required "significantly more attention from the driver" compared to a traditional lever setup, indicating a lack of consideration for user safety and ease of use [103959].
(b) Additionally, the incident can also be categorized as accidental, as the driver's distraction with the touchscreen controls while driving was not intentional but rather a result of the design and functionality of the software interface. The driver's actions were not deliberate but rather a consequence of the system's design that led to the unintended consequence of veering out of the lane and causing an accident [103959]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident discussed in the article did not involve a permanent failure but rather a temporary failure. The article mentions that the driver was facing consequences for being distracted by the touchscreen controls of the Tesla Model 3, specifically the wiper controls, which led to an accident. The driver argued that the wiper control was a safety-related feature that he needed to access, indicating that the failure was temporary and not a permanent issue with the software [103959]. |
| Behaviour |
crash, omission, other |
(a) The software failure incident in the article can be categorized as a crash. The driver of the Tesla veered out of his lane while distracted with the touchscreen console, leading to a crash into an embankment and some trees. This crash was a result of the system losing its state and not performing its intended functions, which in this case was to keep the vehicle within the lane and avoid collisions [103959].
(b) The software failure incident can also be linked to omission. The Tesla's touchscreen controls required the driver to navigate software menus and choose from settings on the screen to adjust the wiper speed. This complexity and the omission of a physical lever on the steering wheel led to the driver being distracted and ultimately omitting to maintain proper control of the vehicle, resulting in the crash [103959].
(c) Timing is not a significant factor in this software failure incident as the issue was not related to the system performing its intended functions too late or too early.
(d) The failure is not directly related to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly.
(e) The failure is not characterized by a byzantine behavior where the system behaves erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions.
(f) The other behavior exhibited in this software failure incident is the requirement for the driver to interact with the touchscreen console to control essential functions like the wipers, which led to distraction and ultimately the crash. This behavior highlights a design flaw in the system that prioritized touchscreen controls over simpler, more intuitive physical controls like a lever on the steering wheel, contributing to the incident [103959]. |