Tesla Drops Full Self-Driving In Europe
Tesla has begun using the name "Tesla Assisted Driving" on its European websites as it seeks approval for its driver-assistance system there. In the United States, the company continues to market the same technology as "Full Self-Driving (Supervised)." The change follows years of questions from regulators, safety advocates and some Tesla owners, who have said the "Full Self-Driving" label suggests the car can drive itself, even though the driver must stay alert and ready to take control.
How these systems are described matters to American motorcyclists. Rider safety depends on the driver alongside us watching the road. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) has long warned that language suggesting full autonomy can lead drivers to rely on the technology more than they should. The concern is not theoretical: in 2024, a motorcyclist was killed near Seattle in a crash that Washington State Patrol investigators determined involved a Tesla operating on Full Self-Driving.
Tesla's move in Europe shows that clearer marketing is possible. American riders should not have to wait for it to happen one market at a time. The Know Before You Drive Act, which cleared a House subcommittee in February, would set a national standard by barring automakers from marketing driver-assistance systems as self-driving and requiring dealers to explain their limits at the time of sale. Any vehicle that drives itself should also be required to prove it can reliably detect motorcycles before it shares the road with riders.
The MRF welcomes any step toward clearer labeling of driver-assistance technology and will continue making that case in Washington. Riders should urge their members of Congress to require clear, accurate descriptions of these systems.
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