Recent videos circulating online depict Tesla robotaxis speeding and even drifting into the wrong lane. TechCrunch revealed that Ed Niedermeyer, known for his work on Tesla in “Ludicrous: The Unvarnished Story of Tesla Motors,” is currently in Austin monitoring the robotaxi situation. Niedermeyer captured footage of a Tesla robotaxi unnecessarily braking near police vehicles in parking lots on two separate occasions, which has now been shared on YouTube.
NHTSA is now aware of these incidents and is in communication with Tesla to gather further information, as stated in their official announcement. They emphasized their dedication to upholding vehicle safety laws and regulations and ensuring that new technologies meet stringent safety standards before approval. While they allow companies like Tesla to innovate, they will step in if safety concerns arise to safeguard public safety.
The Tesla robotaxis are equipped with an autonomous driving system that operates without human supervision. Details about this system remain scarce, but there is a human “safety monitor” stationed in the front seat during rides for added precaution.
This past Sunday, Tesla commenced providing rides to individuals in South Austin as part of a trial to test their self-driving technology. Tesla offers a cutting-edge Full Self-Driving Supervised software to certain vehicle owners, which takes care of steering and braking while in operation. However, the system still requires drivers to remain attentive and keep their hands on the wheel.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration contacted Tesla following numerous online videos showcasing these robotaxis misbehaving in South Austin, where Tesla is showcasing the technology to selected customers. Bloomberg was the first to report that NHTSA had been in touch with Tesla, and TechCrunch later confirmed this interaction.
Guess what? Federal safety officials have reached out to Tesla right after they started offering rides in their self-driving robotaxis in Austin.
