Investigating Tesla's 'Full Self-Driving' System After Fatal Crash

The U. S. government's road safety agency, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has started an investigation into Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" system. This follows reports of crashes happening in low-visibility conditions, one of which resulted in a pedestrian's death. The investigation includes four crashes where Teslas faced challenges with sun glare, fog, and airborne dust. One of these incidents occurred in Rimrock, Arizona, and involved a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The probe aims to understand if the system can detect and respond to low visibility properly. It covers over 2. 4 million Teslas from 2016 to 2024 models.

Tesla repeatedly states that human drivers must be ready to take control at any time, but this hasn't stopped the company from planning to introduce fully autonomous vehicles. Last week, Tesla revealed a robotaxi without a steering wheel or pedals, aiming to have autonomous Model Y and Model 3 vehicles on the road by next year. However, federal approval is needed for such vehicles, and the current investigation could delay these plans. Critics argue that Tesla's use of only cameras for hazard detection is insufficient compared to other companies, which use radar and lasers for better visibility. Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" system has faced recalls due to issues like running stop signs and disobeying traffic laws. Previous investigations into Tesla's Autopilot system revealed issues with crashing into parked emergency vehicles. The new investigation marks a shift for NHTSA, as it now focuses on the capabilities of Tesla's driving system rather than just driver attention. This raises questions about the safety and reliability of Tesla's autonomous technology.

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