NTSB chair wants Tesla to limit where Autopilot can operate

DETROIT – The caput of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is calling connected Tesla to enactment connected recommendations to bounds wherever its Autopilot driver-assist strategy tin run and to enactment a strategy successful spot to marque definite drivers are paying attention.

In a missive sent to Tesla CEO Elon Musk connected Monday, Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy says the electrical conveyance shaper has not responded to the agency's recommendations issued 4 years ago.

Homendy besides says institution statements that information is the superior plan request for Tesla are undercut by the rollout of “Full Self-Driving” bundle to customers who trial it connected nationalist roads. The tests are being done “without archetypal addressing the precise plan shortcomings” that allowed 3 fatal Tesla crashes that were investigated by the NTSB, she wrote.

The NTSB investigates proscription crashes but has nary regulatory authority. It tin lone marque recommendations to automakers oregon different national agencies specified arsenic the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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A connection was near Monday seeking remark from Tesla.

The missive comes conscionable hours aft NHTSA posted a papers showing that Tesla wants to support concealed its effect to the agency's probe of Autopilot.

The electrical conveyance shaper sent the bureau a partial effect by a Friday deadline. The bureau is investigating however the partially automated driving strategy detects and responds to exigency vehicles parked connected highways.

In a papers posted connected its website Monday, the bureau says it is reviewing the effect and that Tesla has asked that its full submission beryllium treated arsenic confidential concern information.

Companies often inquire that immoderate accusation beryllium kept confidential erstwhile they respond to the agency. Much of the clip the documents are heavy redacted earlier being placed successful nationalist files.

In August the information bureau made a elaborate accusation petition to Tesla successful an 11-page missive that is portion of a wide-ranging probe into however Autopilot behaves erstwhile archetypal responder vehicles are parked portion crews woody with crashes oregon different hazards.

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The bureau wants to cognize however Teslas observe a clang scene, including flashing lights, roadworthy flares, reflective vests worn by responders and vehicles parked connected the road.

NHTSA besides wants to cognize however the strategy responds to debased airy conditions, what actions it takes if exigency vehicles are present, and however it warns drivers.

The bureau opened the probe successful August, citing 12 crashes successful which Teslas connected Autopilot deed parked constabulary and occurrence vehicles. In the crashes nether investigation, astatine slightest 17 radical were wounded and 1 was killed.

NHTSA announced the probe into Tesla’s operator assistance systems including Autopilot and/or Traffic Aware Cruise Control aft a bid of collisions with exigency vehicles since 2018. The probe covers 765,000 vehicles from the 2014 done 2021 exemplary years.

Autopilot, which tin support vehicles successful their lanes and halt for obstacles successful beforehand of them, has often been misused by Tesla drivers. They person been caught driving drunk oregon adjacent riding successful the backmost spot portion a car rolled down a California highway.

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The bureau besides is asking Tesla for details connected however it ensures that drivers are paying attention, including instrumentality sheet and aural warnings. NHTSA besides wants each user complaints, lawsuits and arbitration cases involving Autopilot, and it wants to cognize wherever the strategy tin operate.

Tesla has said Autopilot and its “Full Self-Driving” bundle are operator assistance systems and that drivers indispensable wage attraction and beryllium acceptable to intervene astatine immoderate time.

A connection was near aboriginal Monday seeking remark from Tesla, which has disbanded its media relations department.

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