The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is seeking information from Tesla regarding its new "Mad Max" driver assistance mode, which reportedly enables more aggressive vehicle operation and potential speed limit violations. This inquiry is part of an ongoing NHTSA investigation into 2.9 million Tesla vehicles equipped with the Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, following numerous reports of traffic safety violations and crashes, including instances where FSD-engaged vehicles ran red lights, underscoring escalating regulatory scrutiny over the system's safety and compliance with traffic laws.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is escalating its scrutiny of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, specifically inquiring about the new "Mad Max" driver assistance mode. This mode reportedly facilitates aggressive driving, potentially above speed limits, and is under investigation as part of a broader probe into 2.9 million Tesla vehicles. NHTSA's inquiry is driven by 58 reports of FSD-related traffic safety violations, including 14 crashes and 23 injuries. The agency cited six specific incidents where FSD-engaged vehicles ran red lights, leading to collisions, highlighting critical safety concerns and non-compliance with traffic laws. Tesla's reposting of social media content describing "Mad Max" mode's aggressive capabilities contrasts with NHTSA's emphasis on driver responsibility for traffic law adherence. This regulatory pressure, reflected in a strongly negative sentiment score of -0.8 for TSLA, presents a material risk to the company's operational freedom and public perception of its advanced driver-assistance systems.
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strongly negative
Sentiment Score
-0.70
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