- As it turns out, the robotaxi is having a little difficulty sticking to posted speed limits.
- One Tesla robotaxi was also filmed stopping unnecessarily for police cars at a crime scene.
- NHTSA says it’s been in contact with Tesla about the minor incidents.
Well, we knew this was going to happen. Just a few days after Tesla’s Robotaxi service kicked off in Austin, Texas, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has already been alerted to several incidents of the vehicles driving erratically. Elon Musk has previously said Tesla would launch the service cautiously, and as it turns out, that was probably a good idea.
The first passengers in the new Robotaxi service are prominent supporters of the Tesla brand, all of whom received invitations to experience the system before it becomes available to the broader public. One of these was Rob Maurer from the Tesla Daily channel on YouTube.
Read: Tesla Says It’s Driverless But Someone’s Always Watching
In his video, the Tesla Model Y Robotaxi was filmed cruising through the streets of Austin, mostly trouble-free. However, at the 7:05 mark of this video, it turned on its signal and moved into the left lane, preparing to make a left turn. But, as it turns out, it was attempting to turn at the wrong intersection, and it only realized this when it was in the middle of turning. It hesitated and then turned back to the right, continuing to drive forward, and then successfully turned left a few hundred feet up the road.
The Incidents Continue
A second incident was filmed by automotive writer Edward Niedermeyer. He was travelling near a Tesla Robotaxi and filmed it suddenly stopping in the middle of the road while passing a series of police cars parked across a property next to the road. A separate video from Tesla investor Sawyer Merritt also showed the EV driving 35 mph in a 30 mph zone.
Speaking with CNBC, a spokesperson from the NHTSA said it was “aware of the referenced incidents and is in contact with the manufacturer to gather additional information.” The agency added that it will investigate “incidents involving potential safety defects,” and take “necessary actions to protect road safety.”
Importantly, the regulator does not need to pre-approve technologies and systems, such as those used by Tesla’s new Robotaxi fleet.
