A Cybertruck owner thanks Tesla after his vehicle collided with a pole while in self-driving mode, emphasizing his unexpected reaction.
In an unusual turn of events, Cybertruck owner Jonathan Challinger thanked Tesla after his vehicle crashed into a pole in self-driving mode.
This incident has sparked discussions about Tesla’s self-driving technology and its safety features.
Cybertruck owner drives vehicle in full-self-driving mode
Challinger was using Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature when his Cybertruck drove into a curb and then collided with a light pole.
He shared his experience on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
In his post, he explained that the car failed to change lanes properly as a lane ended.
He noted that the vehicle did not slow down before hitting the curb, leading to the crash.
![cybertruck owner expresses gratitude to tesla after full self-driving mode 16759](https://photo.wikiany.net/uploads/photos/2025/02/12/cybertruck-owner-expresses-gratitude-to-tesla-after-full-self-driving-mode__u30__0-51081500_1739329108.jpg)
“Soooooo my Tesla Cybertruck crashed into a curb and then a light post on v13.2.4,” Challinger reveals.
“It failed to merge out of a lane that was ending (there was no one on my left) and made no attempt to slow down to turn until it had already hit the curb.
“Big fail on my part, obviously. Don’t make the same mistake I did. Pay attention. It can happen.
I follow Tesla and FSD pretty closely and haven’t heard of any accident on V13 at all before this happened. It is easy to get complacent now – don’t.”
The owner expresses gratitude to Tesla after the accident
Despite the damage and shock of the incident, Challinger’s reaction was quite surprising.
Instead of blaming Tesla for the crash, he expressed gratitude for the safety features of the Cybertruck.
He stated, “Thank you Tesla for engineering the best passive safety in the world. I walked away without a scratch.”
His positive response left many people confused and curious about his mindset.
![cybertruck owner expresses gratitude to tesla after full self-driving mode 16760](https://photo.wikiany.net/uploads/photos/2025/02/12/cybertruck-owner-expresses-gratitude-to-tesla-after-full-self-driving-mode__u30__0-91907200_1739329108.jpg)
Understanding Tesla’s full self-driving system (FSD)
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system is designed to allow cars to navigate without human assistance.
The technology relies on multiple cameras and complex algorithms to make driving decisions.
While it has been praised for its innovation, it has also faced criticism due to accidents and safety concerns.
There have been reports of FSD running red lights and causing crashes.
![cybertruck owner expresses gratitude to tesla after full self-driving mode 16758](https://photo.wikiany.net/uploads/photos/2025/02/12/cybertruck-owner-expresses-gratitude-to-tesla-after-full-self-driving-mode__u30__0-23789300_1739329108.jpg)
However, studies suggest that self-driving cars, in general, are safer than those driven by humans.
This is an important factor for many users. They trust the technology to keep them safe, even in challenging situations.
Challinger shared damage photos, sparking discussions.
After the crash, Challinger shared a significant photo of the damage.
Many people responded to his post with mixed feelings.
Some users joked about his gratitude, saying things like, “Thank you Tesla… for making a car that crashed itself.”
Others raised concerns about how safe the technology really is, especially for pedestrians.
One commenter pointed out that a pedestrian could have been seriously hurt if they were in the path of the vehicle.
Challinger defended the FSD system, arguing that it is designed to interact safely with pedestrians.
He believes that if there had been a person nearby, the car would have acted differently.
![cybertruck owner expresses gratitude to tesla after full self-driving mode 16757](https://photo.wikiany.net/uploads/photos/2025/02/12/cybertruck-owner-expresses-gratitude-to-tesla-after-full-self-driving-mode__u30__0-86350400_1739329107.jpg)