Tesla has been approached by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) after footage shared on social media appeared to show its newly-launched driverless cars breaking traffic laws. The firm’s long-awaited robotaxis were tried out on public roads for the first time in Austin, Texas, on Sunday.
Videos posted online seem to show instances where the vehicles, which had a safety driver in the passenger seat, drive erratically.
In a statement, the NHTSA said it was “aware of the referenced incidents and is in contact with the manufacturer to gather additional information”.
Social media footage seems to show the vehicles struggled with real world driving scenarios. One video seems to show a robotaxi stopping abruptly as it passes a parked police car. Tech news outlet TechCrunch said cars were also seen speeding and swerving into the wrong lane.
The rollout is limited to 12 taxis and Tesla says they won’t operate in bad weather, attempt difficult intersections or carry customers below the age of 18. Analysts had already said the small-scale launch showed how far Tesla has to go to catch up with rivals.
Tesla is using a different technology to its rivals, relying on in-car cameras rather than the radar and sensors employed by the current market leaders. It is betting that its approach will be cheaper and therefore ultimately more attractive to consumers.
However, questions have been asked about its safety. The NHTSA has highlighted that under the law it “does not pre-approve new technologies or vehicle systems – rather, manufacturers certify that each vehicle meets NHTSA’s rigorous safety standards, and the agency investigates incidents involving potential safety defects”.
Source: BBC News
Image Credit: Stock Image/Tesla
