The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has raised alarms regarding Tesla Inc.’s portrayal of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software on social media platform, X. A letter sent to Tesla from the auto safety watchdog highlighted concerns over posts from Tesla’s official account that may contradict Tesla’s own guidance on FSD use. This communication was publicly disclosed on Friday.
Tesla’s FSD is designed to help drivers but still requires ongoing supervision. Manuals and instructional videos clearly state that the software does not render a vehicle fully autonomous. However, the NHTSA expressed worries about posts suggesting otherwise, exhibiting scenarios where drivers appear disengaged. The regulator urged Tesla to reassess these messages, noting that social media might have more substantial influence than traditional vehicle manuals.
This issue gains further gravity in light of NHTSA’s recent probe into approximately 2.4 million Tesla vehicles, prompted by reports involving four crashes with FSD active. It found that these incidents occurred in conditions of “reduced roadway visibility,” triggered by factors like sun glare or fog. One severe incident tragically involved a pedestrian fatality.
Tesla is tasked with responding to NHTSA’s inquiries by December 18. The electric vehicle manufacturer must also provide details of any related crashes it knows of. Earlier this year, Tesla recalled more than 2 million vehicles in the U.S. to remedy issues with the Autosteer component of its Autopilot suite. Although enhancements were promised, the NHTSA has since intensified its scrutiny to verify the efficacy of these improvements.
You can read the original article here: https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/11/41867551/tesla-faces-nhtsa-scrutiny-over-social-media-promotion-of-fsd-technology-that-shows-disengaged-driver-behavior
