Tesla’s Robotaxi Launch Faces Scrutiny After Erratic Behavior on Public Roads

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reached out to Tesla after videos surfaced online showing the company’s newly launched driverless cars breaking traffic laws. Tesla’s long-awaited robotaxis were tested on public roads for the first time in Austin, Texas, with footage revealing erratic driving behavior, such as speeding and swerving into the wrong lane. Despite the issues, Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk celebrated the milestone as the culmination of a decade of hard work. The rollout, which is limited to just 12 taxis, will not include customers below 18 years of age and will avoid operating in bad weather or navigating complex intersections. The NHTSA is investigating the incidents to determine if there are safety defects. Tesla’s approach differs from its competitors, such as Waymo and Zoox, by relying on in-car cameras instead of radar and sensors. This method is believed to be more cost-effective but has raised safety concerns. As the technology develops, questions remain about the relative safety of fully autonomous vehicles compared to human-driven cars.