Tesla accused of testing unfinished autonomous driving technologies on its users
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has asked its subsidiary agency, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), to introduce stricter standards for automated vehicle technology. The NTSB noted that, for example, Tesla is using customers to beta test it’s Level 2 Full Self Driving automated technology on public roads, but there is no proper regulatory oversight.
In its letter to the NHTSA last month, the regulator calls for tougher federal requirements for the development and use of automated driving systems on public roads.
Tesla recently released a beta version of its Level 2 autopilot system described as fully autonomous. With the system running, Tesla is testing highly automated autonomous driving technology on public roads, but with limited oversight or reporting requirements, ” NTSB chief Robert Sumwalt said in a letter. He noted that the agency’s non-intervention policy in overseeing the testing of automated driving technologies poses a potential risk to motorists and other road users.
Level 2 (Level 2) means partial automation of vehicle control: it has some automated functions, but it requires the driver to control the performance of functions, monitor the traffic situation, and keep his hands on the steering wheel.
Tighter federal measures could prevent Tesla from testing its autopilot systems the way it does today – using customers and public roads as test pilots and proving grounds, respectively.
Before this, NHTSA did not try to regulate the use of automated driving systems, explaining this because it does not want to “hinder innovation” with premature harsh measures, leaving this task’s implementation to the state authorities.
