The U.S. government's National Highway Safety Administration has launched an investigation into Tesla's “Full Self-Driving” system following reports of crashes in low-visibility conditions, including one fatal incident involving a pedestrian. The probe was initiated after Tesla reported four crashes where vehicles entered areas with reduced visibility due to factors such as sun glare, fog, and airborne dust.
One of the crashes resulted in the death of a pedestrian, while another caused an injury. The agency will be examining the system's capability to detect and appropriately respond to reduced roadway visibility conditions, as well as the circumstances contributing to these accidents.
The investigation will encompass approximately 2.4 million Teslas manufactured between 2016 and 2024. Tesla, which has consistently emphasized that its system is not capable of fully autonomous driving and that human drivers must be prepared to take control at any moment, has yet to comment on the investigation.
Notably, Tesla recently unveiled a fully autonomous robotaxi at an event in Hollywood, showcasing a vehicle without a steering wheel or pedals. CEO Elon Musk announced plans for fully autonomous vehicles to operate without human drivers by next year, with robotaxis expected to be available for public use in 2026.
