The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a preliminary investigation into Tesla's “Full Self-Driving (Supervised)” software following reports of four crashes in low-visibility conditions, including a tragic incident that resulted in the death of a pedestrian. This investigation comes amid growing scrutiny of Tesla's driver assistance systems and their ability to function effectively in adverse weather.

Crashes Under Investigation

The four incidents under review occurred between november 2023 and May 2024. The most alarming of these was a november crash in Rimrock, Arizona, where a Model Y struck and killed a pedestrian. Other reported incidents include:

• A january 2024 crash in Nipton, california, where a Model 3 collided with another vehicle during a dust storm.
• A march 2024 incident in red Mills, Virginia, involving a Model 3 crashing into another car under cloudy conditions.
• A May 2024 crash in Collinsville, Ohio, where a Model 3 hit a stationary object in foggy conditions, injuring at least one person.

The NHTSA is particularly interested in assessing whether the Full Self-Driving system can effectively detect and respond to challenging roadway visibility conditions, such as sun glare, fog, and airborne dust.

Context of the Investigation

This probe follows the closure of a nearly three-year investigation into Tesla's Autopilot software, which examined around 500 crashes in which the system was active, resulting in 13 fatalities. Although the Autopilot probe concluded, it has led to a new investigation concerning a recall fix related to that system. Moreover, tesla data-faces increasing legal pressures, including a Department of Justice investigation into the accuracy of its claims regarding driver-assistance features, as well as accusations from the california Department of Motor vehicles of exaggerating the capabilities of its software.

Musk's Ambitious Promises

The timing of the NHTSA’s investigation is particularly notable, as it follows recent announcements by tesla CEO Elon Musk regarding the prototype of a two-seater “Cybercab” intended to serve as a robotaxi. Musk has also claimed that Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y will achieve full autonomy in california and texas by 2025, though he has not provided specific details on how this will be accomplished.

Ongoing Safety Concerns

The implications of the NHTSA's investigation are significant, especially as tesla continues to roll out its driver-assistance technologies. The agency's findings could impact public perception and regulatory scrutiny of Tesla's capabilities in the realm of autonomous driving. While tesla insists that drivers must remain vigilant and ready to take control of their vehicles at any moment, the tragic incidents raise fundamental questions about the safety and reliability of the company's software, particularly in challenging driving conditions.

As the NHTSA embarks on this investigation, the automotive world watches closely, with the outcome likely to shape the future of driver assistance technology and the broader discourse on vehicle autonomy.