Reuters: California has put a regulatory review of Tesla's self-driving tests

According to Reuters, California regulators said that after "videos showing dangerous use of the technology" and a federal investigation into Tesla's crash, the state is evaluating whether Tesla's self-driving tests need to be regulated.

Source: Reuters

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has said tesla's "full self-driving" (FSD) beta requires human intervention and is therefore not subject to the department's regulation of self-driving cars.

But the department said in a letter to Lena Gonzalez, chairman of the state Senate Transportation Committee, on Friday that the department "revisited the decision after recent software updates, videos showing dangerous use of the technology, public investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and other expert opinions." ”

The Los Angeles Times first reported the letter. But Tesla did not respond to requests for comment.

Tesla has been expanding the scope of its "beta" of advanced driver assistance software FSD, raising concerns about safety by allowing untrained drivers to test how well the technology operates on public roads.

Commentators say Tesla could avoid state regulation by telling the California Department of Motor Vehicles that its FSD features do not represent true autopilot.

The department said it had notified Tesla that "there will be a further review of its vehicle's technology, including any extensions to current programs or functionality." ”

The department said in a statement: "If the characteristics of these functions comply with the definition of self-driving cars by California law and regulations, dmv will take steps to ensure that Tesla operates under the appropriate self-driving car license." ”

Phil Koopman, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania, said Tesla is required to report accidents and traffic tickets specifically related to FSD under regulations.

Koopman said it would also "trigger driver background checks to ensure a good driving record."

Currently, regulations cover companies like Alphabet Inc and General Motors, which are testing self-driving car technology on public roads in California.

The FSD allows vehicles to perform some driving tasks, such as lane changes, but Tesla says those features "require a fully attentive driver." Still, Tesla marketed the technology as "fully autonomous" and charged up to $10,000 for the software.

DMV also said its review of Tesla's use of the term "full autopilot" continues.

"As these systems become more common, DMVs share the concerns of many other safety stakeholders about the possibility of driver inattention, misunderstanding, or misuse," DMV said. (Proofreading/Aaron)