Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" technology is being investigated by the US government's road safety department in response to allegations of incidents in low visibility, including one that claimed a pedestrian's life.
DETROIT (AP) — A pedestrian was killed in one of the collisions reported in low visibility, prompting the U.S. government's road safety body to look into Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" technology.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched the investigation on Thursday, according to records, after the firm reported four collisions involving Teslas that were caused by airborne dust, fog, and sun glare.
According to the organization, there were injuries in another collision in addition to the pedestrian's death.
Researchers will examine if "Full Self-Driving" can "identify and react appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions, and if so, the contributing circumstances for these crashes."
The study looks at almost 2.4 million Teslas from the 2016–2024 model years.
Early on Friday, a message was left asking Tesla for comment. Tesla has stated time and time again that human drivers must always be prepared to step in and stop the system from driving itself.
Tesla has unveiled a fully autonomous robotaxi without a steering wheel or pedals at a Hollywood event, with plans to have autonomous Models Y and 3 running without human drivers next year. The robotaxis will be available in 2026 in California and Texas. The impact of the investigation on Tesla's self-driving ambitions is unclear, as NHTSA would need to approve any robotaxi without pedals or a steering wheel, which is unlikely to happen while the investigation is ongoing. If Tesla tries to deploy autonomous vehicles in its existing models, it likely falls to state regulations. NHTSA will also investigate any similar crashes involving "Full Self-Driving" in low visibility conditions.
The review will evaluate the timing, purpose, and capabilities of any updates, as well as Telsa's safety impact assessment.
Tesla has reported four crashes to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under an order covering all automakers. A pedestrian was killed in Rimrock, Arizona, in November 2023 after being hit by a 2021 Tesla Model Y. Tesla has twice recalled its "Full Self-Driving" system under pressure from NHTSA, which sought information after a Tesla using the system struck and killed a motorcyclist near Seattle. The recalls were issued because the system was programmed to run stop signs at slow speeds and disobeyed other traffic laws. Critics argue that Tesla's system, which uses only cameras to spot hazards, doesn't have proper sensors for fully self-driving.
The recalls came after a three-year investigation into Tesla's less-sophisticated Autopilot system crashing into emergency and other vehicles parked on highways. The investigation was closed last April after pressured by NHTSA to bolster a weak system that ensured drivers were paying attention. NHTSA began investigating whether the recall was working after the Autopilot crash investigation in 2021.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" system, which was previously viewed as assisting drivers rather than driving themselves. The agency is now focusing on the system's capabilities rather than just ensuring drivers are paying attention. The Center for Auto Safety's executive director, Michael Brooks, argues that the previous investigation of Autopilot did not address why Teslas were not seeing and stopping for emergency vehicles, stating that the systems are not capable of detecting safety hazards regardless of drivers' attention.
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