DETROIT — The US government’s highway safety department is looking into Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” technology after receiving complaints of incidents in low-visibility situations, including one that killed a pedestrian.
According to records, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched the investigation on Thursday after Tesla reported four collisions involving sun glare, fog, and airborne dust.
In addition to the pedestrian’s death, the agency reported that another crash resulted in an injury.
Investigators will examine the ability of “Full Self-Driving” to “detect and respond appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions, and if so, the contributing circumstances for these crashes.”
The probe includes around 2.4 million Teslas from the 2016 to 2024 model years.
A message was left early Friday requesting a response from Tesla, which has consistently stated that the system cannot drive itself and that human drivers must be prepared to intervene at all times.
Last week, Tesla staged a presentation at a Hollywood studio to reveal a fully autonomous robotaxi with no steering wheel or pedals. Musk, who has previously promised autonomous vehicles, stated that the business intends to have self-driving Models Y and 3 on the road by next year. Robotaxis without steering wheels will be available in California and Texas beginning in 2026, he said.
The investigation’s impact on Tesla’s self-driving goals remains unclear. Any robotaxi without pedals or a steering wheel would need to be approved by the NHTSA, which is unlikely to happen while the inquiry is ongoing. However, if the corporation attempts to incorporate self-driving vehicles into its existing models, state rules will almost certainly apply. There are no federal regulations particularly addressing autonomous vehicles, however, they must follow general safety guidelines.
US To Probe Tesla’s ‘Full Self-Driving’ System After Pedestrian Killed In Low Visibility Conditions
NHTSA also stated that it will investigate whether any other similar crashes employing “Full Self-Driving” occurred in low visibility situations, and it will request information from the business on whether any changes changed the system’s performance in those conditions.
“In particular, this review will assess the timing, purpose and capabilities of any such updates, as well as Telsa’s assessment of their safety impact,” the documents added.
Tesla reported the four crashes to NHTSA by the agency’s order, which covered all automakers. According to the agency database, the pedestrian was murdered in Rimrock, Arizona, in November 2023 after being struck by a 2021 Tesla Model Y. Rimrock is approximately 100 miles (161 kilometers) north of Phoenix. Messages were left requesting information about the crash from local and state agencies.
Tesla has twice recalled “Full Self-Driving” due to pressure from the NHTSA, which in July sought information from law authorities and the firm after a Tesla utilizing the system crashed and killed a motorcyclist near Seattle.
US To Probe Tesla’s ‘Full Self-Driving’ System After Pedestrian Killed In Low Visibility Conditions
The recalls were made because the system was set to run stop signs at modest speeds and violated other traffic regulations. Both issues were to be resolved by online software updates.
Critics have claimed that Tesla’s system, which solely utilizes cameras to detect risks, lacks the necessary sensors to be truly self-driving. Almost all other companies developing self-driving cars utilize radar and laser sensors in addition to cameras to improve sight in low-light circumstances.
The “Full Self-Driving” recalls were issued following a three-year probe of Tesla’s less sophisticated Autopilot system colliding with emergency and other cars parked on highways, many of which had warning lights flashing.
That probe was ended in April after the government pressed Tesla to recall its vehicles in order to strengthen a poor mechanism for ensuring driver attention. A few weeks following the recall, NHTSA began researching whether it was effective.
The NHTSA launched its Autopilot collision investigation in 2021, following 11 reports of Teslas colliding with parked emergency vehicles while using Autopilot. In documents detailing why the inquiry was closed, NHTSA stated that it discovered 467 collisions employing Autopilot, resulting in 54 injuries and 14 deaths. Autopilot is a more advanced version of cruise control, whereas Musk claims “Full Self-Driving” can drive without human involvement.
The probe, which began Thursday, takes NHTSA into new terrain, as the agency previously viewed Tesla’s technology as supporting drivers rather than driving themselves. The agency’s new examination focuses on the capabilities of “Full Self-Driving” rather than simply ensuring drivers are paying attention.
According to Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, the earlier Autopilot investigation did not dig into why Teslas weren’t spotting and braking for emergency vehicles.
“Before they were kind of putting the onus on the driver rather than the car,” he remarked. “Here they’re saying these systems are not capable of appropriately detecting safety hazards whether the drivers are paying attention or not.”
SOURCE | AP
