Cheap Device Enables Hands-Free Driving and Draws Regulators' Scrutiny
WSJ reports a $1,000 aftermarket kit from Comma.ai lets drivers go hands-free, while NHTSA probes crashes, including three deaths, linked to it.
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what happened
The Wall Street Journal describes a retired mechanic in Michigan who uses a third-party kit from Comma.ai to take his hands off the wheel of his Chrysler Pacifica at highway speeds. The kit cost about $1,000 and took roughly an hour to install, and the company says it works on more than 350 vehicle models dating back to 2014.
According to police and incident reports the paper reviewed, some drivers have fallen asleep or hit stopped vehicles while using the device. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says at least five crashes, including three deaths, are linked to Comma.ai, and it opened an investigation in September.
There are no federal safety standards for this kind of system. Automakers including Tesla, GM and Ford offer their own limited hands-free features, some of them through subscriptions. Comma.ai says its software is free and customers pay only for the hardware kit.
why it matters
For markets this is mainly a regulatory story. If NHTSA sets rules for third-party driver-assistance systems, it could affect how automakers price subscription-based hands-free features.
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sources
- A $1,000 Device Enables Hands-Free Driving. But Fatal Crashes Have Prompted Scrutiny. — WSJ, 29 October 2026 at 18:35 UTC
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