NHTSA takes a closer look at Tesla’s FSD
The reason for the new investigation is that the system may violate traffic regulations. According to reports, Tesla vehicles with the FSD system activated have run red lights and driven in the wrong direction when changing lanes.
As the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration case reads; “The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this Preliminary Evaluation to assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety consequences of FSD executing driving maneuvers that constitute traffic safety violations. This investigation concerns versions of FSD that Tesla has labeled as ‘FSD (Supervised)’ and ‘FSD (Beta).'”
The investigation will focus on two types of traffic violations that have happened when using FSD: First, FSD causing vehicles to drive across an intersection despite a red light, and secondly, the lane change into the opposing direction. So far, these two issues have caused 58 incidents, which have been filed, resulting in damages counting 14 fires, as well as 23 injuries.
Furthermore, the NHTSA notes that the system does not report or warn appropriately when taking such actions: “Complaints also alleged that FSD did not provide warnings of the system’s intended behavior. Some complaints alleged that more than one of these failures occurred and, as such, the numbers are not cumulative.”
This case is particularly interesting, as it highlights a major political schism in the USA: In December last year, US president Trump had publicly considered doing away with the NHTSA’s crash reporting rule, which would greatly complicate the government’s ability to monitor the number of autonomously driving car crashes, as well as any efforts to roll out safety regulations. This followed a previous investigation by the NHTSA over the FSD system, launched after multiple deadly accidents occurred in the USA.
Tesla is working hard to roll out its “self-driving system” across the world, having recently received permission to start testing the system in London; however, only with a driver behind the wheel. France recently called out Tesla over misleading advertising and even threatened fines should the American manufacturer not cease deceptive commercial practices.
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