The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been investigating Tesla's “Full Self-Driving” (FSD) systems for several months now. This is one of the systems that a California court recently called "misleading", prompting a name change. Now, according to information posted Thursday on the NHTSA website, the investigation is being amplified.
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) has expressed concerns regarding the “Full Self-Driving” system and its testing, following several incidents in which Teslas struck motorcycles, particularly in low-light conditions. Similarly, the NHTSA probe into Tesla’s FSD is testing possible safety defects that make it risky for use in fog, glaring sun or other “reduced roadway visibility conditions.”
NHTSA wrote that Tesla FSD may fail “to detect and/or warn the driver appropriately under degraded visibility conditions such as glare and airborne obscurants.” These statements appear to echo the MRF's concerns regarding a system advertised to improve roadway safety.
The MRF continues to encourage all riders to practice safe, aware riding and consider taking an Advanced Riders Course to help with crash avoidance. There are over 3 million Teslas on the road utilizing the FSD system, so the MRF will continue to monitor this situation as it develops, to help ensure the safety of all motorcyclists.
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