A Dallas-Fort Worth driver says a routine stop at a railroad crossing in Plano turned into a terrifying close call when his Tesla allegedly accelerated on its own and drove through a lowered crossing gate as a train approached, according to Fox 4 News.
The incident happened April 7 near 18th Street in Plano. Joshua Brown told Fox 4 News he was stopped at the crossing with the arms fully lowered, warning lights flashing, and a DART train clearly visible in the distance. Everything was working exactly the way it should.
Except the car.
Brown said he had logged more than 40,000 miles using Tesla’s Full Self-Driving feature without issue. But in this case, he told Fox 4 News the vehicle did not remain stationary while he waited. Instead, it suddenly accelerated forward without warning.
“About the time I realized I was moving, the bar is right there,” Brown told the news outlet.
The car broke through the crossing arm, sending debris and shattered windshield glass into the cabin. Brown said he looked up to see the train closing in fast.
Brown, an Army veteran, told Fox 4 News the experience rattled him, saying he would rather face gunfire than be staring down a train at close range. He managed to clear the tracks in time and was not injured.
The incident was captured on multiple cameras inside the Tesla, click here to see the footage posted on Storyful, and Fox 4 says the vehicle has since been taken by Tesla for inspection as the company investigates what happened.
There are still unanswered questions. Brown believes the system engaged unexpectedly, while Tesla has not publicly detailed a cause. Whether this was a software issue, driver input, or some combination of factors remains unclear.
What is clear is the bigger picture. Despite the name, Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” system is not fully autonomous. It is a driver-assistance system that still requires the driver to remain fully engaged and ready to take control at all times.
That distinction matters, and situations like this highlight why.
According to Fox 4 News, Brown admitted he briefly zoned out while waiting at the crossing, something many drivers have done at one time or another. Under normal circumstances, that is harmless. At a railroad crossing with automation involved, it can turn serious very quickly.
Fox 4 News also reported that Tesla CEO Elon Musk said earlier this year that the technology is still years away from being significantly safer than a human driver. The station noted that a new version of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Supervised system was released the day after the incident, with the company claiming a 20% improvement in reaction time.
Railroad crossings are among the most unforgiving places on the road. There is no margin for error and no tolerance for hesitation. When the gates are down, the rule is simple: stay put.
For consumers, the takeaway is straightforward. Advanced driver-assistance systems can be helpful, but they are not a substitute for attention or judgment. No matter how advanced the technology becomes, responsibility still sits firmly behind the wheel.
And when the alternative is a fast-moving train, that is not a lesson anyone wants to learn the hard way.