DETROIT — The U.S. government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a new investigation into Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” system following reports of crashes in low-visibility situations, including a tragic incident that resulted in the death of a pedestrian.
On Thursday, the NHTSA confirmed the opening of a probe after Tesla reported four separate crashes that occurred in areas of low visibility caused by conditions such as sun glare, fog, and airborne dust.
In addition to the fatality, one of the reported crashes resulted in injuries, bringing further scrutiny to the safety of the system.
The investigation will examine the capability of the “Full Self-Driving” technology to detect and appropriately respond to compromised visibility conditions, as well as the factors contributing to these accidents.
The inquiry pertains to approximately 2.4 million Tesla vehicles manufactured between 2016 and 2024.
Tesla has consistently maintained that its system does not enable fully autonomous driving and that human intervention is always necessary.
Recently, Tesla showcased a fully autonomous robotaxi at an event, designed without steering wheels or pedals. According to CEO Elon Musk, the company aims to have fully autonomous vehicles operational next year, with robotaxis expected to be available by 2026.
The NHTSA also plans to investigate whether similar incidents involving the “Full Self-Driving” system have occurred in low visibility conditions, and will request information from Tesla regarding any updates that may have influenced the system’s performance under such circumstances.
This review will focus on the timing and purpose of any updates, as well as Tesla’s evaluation of their safety implications.
Under pressure from the NHTSA, Tesla has previously issued two recalls for the “Full Self-Driving” system, following incidents where the system operated unsafely, including one that led to the death of a motorcyclist.
The recalls were initiated due to concerns that the system was programmed to ignore stop signs at low speeds and violated traffic laws on multiple occasions.
Critics argue that Tesla’s reliance solely on cameras for hazard detection may compromise safety, as most other companies developing autonomous vehicle technologies incorporate radar and laser sensors for enhanced visibility in dark or low-visibility conditions.
