On the Dash:
- Senators Markey and Blumenthal are urging NHTSA to investigate Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system over railroad crossing safety.
- FSD failures at train crossings pose a high risk of multi-fatality collisions.
- The senators want NHTSA to limit FSD use and require Tesla to rename the system to avoid misleading consumers.
Senators Ed Markey and Richard Blumenthal are calling on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to investigate Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system following growing reports that the technology fails to detect and properly respond to railroad crossings.
The senators emphasized that collisions at train crossings often result in multiple fatalities, far outweighing risks from other driving errors, such as missed traffic lights or illegal lane changes.
“Because collisions between trains and cars often cause significant fatalities and injuries, FSD’s failure to safely navigate railroad crossings creates a serious risk of a catastrophic crash,” the senators wrote in a letter to NHTSA, which was released to the public. “A miscalculation at a train crossing can lead to catastrophic, multi-fatality collisions involving vehicle occupants, train passengers, and rail workers.”
Tesla’s autonomous driving systems, including Autopilot and Full Self-Driving, have faced regulatory and public scrutiny for years. The automaker recently settled two lawsuits related to Autopilot technology, while NHTSA continues to investigate the more advanced FSD technology.
In October 2024, NHTSA launched an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla EVs equipped with Full Self-Driving after reports of collisions, including one fatal event, linked to reduced roadway visibility.
The senators urged NHTSA to impose restrictions on Tesla’s use of Full Self-Driving and to require the automaker to adopt a new name for the system that does not mislead consumers about its capabilities.
