US Regulator to Investigate Traffic Violations by Tesla’s Autonomous Taxis

Tesla is under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) following alleged traffic violations by its autonomous taxis, according to Reuters.

The agency discovered videos purportedly showing the vehicles using incorrect lanes and speeding, prompting a request for additional information from Tesla.

Earlier, the company launched a driverless taxi service. Test rides are taking place in Austin. According to videos shared on social media, initial trials went smoothly: the driverless Model Y SUVs navigated short distances, intersections, avoided pedestrians, and parked.

However, there were some hiccups. In one instance, a passenger pressed the stop button, but the vehicle only briefly slowed down on the road before continuing.

NHTSA routinely requests data from automakers after receiving reports of questionable behavior by advanced driver assistance systems or automated driving algorithms.

The agency noted that “by law, it does not pre-approve new technologies or vehicle systems.” Automakers confirm that each vehicle meets stringent safety standards, while the agency investigates incidents involving potential defects.

Since October 2024, NHTSA has been investigating crashes involving Tesla vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving software in low-visibility conditions.

In May 2025, Germany began testing driverless cars as public transport.