Tesla's advanced driver-assistance system, known as "Autopilot," is once again under scrutiny by U.S. authorities.
Four Accidents Involving Teslas
This time, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating how the system performs in low-visibility conditions.
The investigation was launched after four accidents involving Tesla vehicles, including one fatal crash where a pedestrian was killed, according to Stern.
In these incidents, visibility was impaired by factors such as fog, dust, or blinding sunlight. NHTSA experts are now trying to determine whether Tesla's "Autopilot" detected the poor conditions and responded appropriately. The probe affects approximately 2.4 million vehicles.
Tesla has marketed its more advanced "Full Self-Driving" (FSD) system, designed to handle city traffic, including traffic signals and right-of-way rules.
However, the company stresses that drivers remain responsible for the vehicle and must be ready to take control at any moment.
Operate Without Human Oversight
Despite the name "Full Self-Driving," Tesla refers to it as a "supervised" system.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has recently announced plans to introduce a version of FSD that could operate without human oversight, set to debut in Texas and California in 2024. However, current users have reported issues, such as the system ignoring red lights or making wrong turns.
This investigation adds to other ongoing probes into Tesla's "Autopilot" system. As Musk pushes forward with his vision of fully autonomous driving, some experts remain skeptical.
Musk’s goal is to develop self-driving cars using only cameras, avoiding expensive sensors like lidar, which companies like Waymo already use successfully in driverless taxis across several U.S. cities.
With plans to introduce a fully autonomous robotaxi by 2026, Musk faces growing challenges. Meanwhile, further scrutiny could slow down Tesla’s ambitious plans, especially as concerns grow about the safety of its autonomous technology.
