The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has contacted Tesla with inquiries on Elon Musk's tweet that said he would take away a crucial safety measure from the company's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system.
The NHTSA is gathering data as part of a larger probe of Tesla's Autopilot, which has been implicated in more than a dozen accidents with stationary emergency vehicles.
The Investigation Follows Years Of Skepticism Against The FSD
In response to a request by Tesla shareholder Omar Qazi, Musk tweeted on December 31 that Tesla would release an over-the-air software upgrade in January that would remove the driver monitoring notice.
According to The Verge, Musk tweeted his support for Qazi's suggestion that FSD Beta users with more than 10,000 miles should have the option to disable the "steering wheel nag."
This response has called on the attention of regulators since Tesla has been under the regulator's observation for a long time now.
It can be remembered that regulators and safety experts have pleaded with Tesla for years to upgrade driver monitoring in its vehicles.
The CEO has even acknowledged that accidents employing Autopilot are caused by complacency.
Still, he previously rebuffed recommendations from his own engineers to provide the company's vehicles more effective driver monitoring.
In order to ensure that drivers pay attention while using hands-free driving features, automakers like General Motors and Ford presently sell automobiles with camera-based eye-tracking systems.
Tesla, on the other hand, makes use of torque sensors that are built into the steering wheel to make sure that drivers have their hands ready.
However, some drivers have manipulated the system to believe their hands are on the wheel by using weights and other devices.
Researchers could "drive" a Tesla Model Y for several kilometers while seated in the backseat by using a hefty chain to imitate hands on the steering wheel.
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The FSD Is Also Looking Into Tesla's Alleged False Advertising
According to The Verge, autopilot, a driver assistance technology, is now a standard feature on all Tesla vehicles.
Customers can purchase the Full Self-Driving option for $15,000 more, which Elon Musk has repeatedly claimed will one day provide Tesla owners fully autonomous capabilities.
Note that the FSD is still a "Level 2" sophisticated driver-assistance system, which means the driver must remain totally focused on controlling the car while it is moving.
Due to complaints of FSD malfunction and other safety issues, Tesla has run into trouble with the federal government.
With 16 wrecks, 15 injuries, and one fatality, the NHTSA is looking into incidents in which Tesla drivers were using Autopilot when they struck stationary emergency vehicles.
It is important to remember that after the government upgraded its probe earlier this year, the automaker is now potentially facing a recall of Autopilot, FSD, or both.
In the past, customers have filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging that it misled them about the capabilities of its vehicles and regulators have accused it of fraudulent advertising.
However, as a result of Musk's efforts to downplay the limitations of Tesla's autonomous driving technology, he has so far mostly escaped any major repercussions.
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