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NHTSA Is Supposedly Watching Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Beta Very Closely

October 27, 2020
Tyler Durden

NHTSA Is Supposedly Watching Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Beta Very Closely

Tyler Durden

Tue, 10/27/2020 – 12:15

Today in news we find to be highly unlikely, federal regulators at the NHTSA are supposedly watching Tesla’s roll out of its “Full Self Driving” beta closely, according to The Verge. 

Though, we’re not sure this means anything at all, since this is the regulatory agency that has sat idly by and watched one Tesla on Autopilot after another wreak havoc on city streets and highways, sometimes resulting in fatal consequences. 

Regardless, the NHTSA has commented that it would “monitor the new technology closely and will not hesitate to take action to protect the public against unreasonable risks to safety.”

The agency also seemed to take the wind out of the sails of the name “Full Self Driving”, stating: “As we have stated consistently, no vehicle available for purchase today is capable of driving itself. The most advanced vehicle technologies available for purchase today provide driver assistance and require a fully attentive human driver at all times performing the driving task and monitoring the surrounding environment. Abusing these technologies is, at a minimum, distracted driving. Every State in the Nation holds the driver responsible for the safe operation of the vehicle.”

Yet despite the obvious differences the NHTSA has with Tesla – and the very stark exception it takes with the product’s name – it simply allows it to run amok on U.S. streets, potentially putting other drivers (who did not sign up for Tesla’s beta test) at risk.

Recall, on Monday of this week we shared videos of the “Full Self Driving” beta being put to work on the open roads. 

One video shows a driver saying “this is kind of challenging” approaching an intersection with construction. His Tesla display seems to show the vehicle unsure of whether it is turning left or right, before the car makes an awkward left turn, which the driver appears to have to assist with.

A second video shows a Tesla “really hitting the accelerator” then braking quickly seconds later, as the driver narrates.

“It makes you feel a little queasy,” the driver says. 

Then, the car appears to far overshoot a left turn while a surprised and scared driver yells: “Holy shit!”. After the driver rights the vehicle’s turn, he exclaims: “Good lord almighty.” 

In a third video, a Tesla is seen clearly confused about what lane it should be in after driving through an intersection. The car bucks back and forth between the lane it is currently in and the lane to the left of it. 

Finally, there’s this video of a Tesla stopping in the middle of an intersection in the midst of making a left hand turn. After the car behind it honks, it completes the turn while crossing over a solid white line. 

Recall, a couple of weeks ago we noted that FSD is supposed to allow Tesla vehicles to react to stop signs, stop lights and freeway exits. Days prior to that we noted that after Tesla released its much awaited beta that it had also warned drivers that the software “may do the wrong thing at the worst time.”

And as far as the NHTSA stepping in and doing something even-handed and in the best interest of the public? We’ll believe it when we finally see it.