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| Image: teslanorth.com |
On January 1, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, tweeted about the possibility of removing the "steering wheel nag" warning from the Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta system. The warning reminds drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel while the car is in self-driving mode. In response, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has requested clarification from Tesla regarding Musk's tweet. The NHTSA is currently investigating a number of accidents involving Tesla's Autopilot or FSD Beta systems.
Elon Musk's Tweet and Clarification
In a tweet on January 1, Elon Musk agreed with a statement that "users with more than 10,000 miles on FSD Beta should be given the option to turn off the steering wheel nag." He also stated that this change would be included in the upcoming FSD Beta update.
However, later that day, Musk clarified his statement, saying that the steering wheel nag will only be disabled for users who have demonstrated "competence" with the FSD Beta system. He added that the nag will remain in place for other users until regulators give the green light for fully autonomous driving.
NHTSA's Response
The NHTSA has requested clarification from Tesla on Musk's tweet regarding the removal of the steering wheel nag. In a statement, the NHTSA said it is "in contact with Tesla to understand the company's plans and their impact on safety."
Federal Regulations on Autonomous Driving
In order to comply with federal regulations, Tesla requires that its Autopilot and FSD features be used by "fully attentive drivers who have their hands on the wheel and are prepared to take over at any moment." This is because current regulations do not allow for fully autonomous driving, and any autonomous driving system must have a human driver ready to take control at all times.
Elon Musk's Previous Statements on Autonomous Driving
Earlier this year, Elon Musk had promised that Teslas would be turned into fully self-driving vehicles with the release of the FSD Beta v11 update by the end of 2022. However, regulators have stated that Tesla's autonomous driving features will still require a driver's attention for the foreseeable future, and will not certify the FSD Beta as anything but a Level 2 solution. A Level 2 system is one that can control the car's speed and steering, but the driver must be ready to take control at any time.
Conclusion
Elon Musk's recent tweet about the possibility of removing the steering wheel nag warning from the FSD Beta system has caught the attention of the NHTSA, which has requested clarification from Tesla. While Musk has stated that the nag will only be disabled for users who have demonstrated competence with the system, the NHTSA is concerned about the safety implications of this change. Federal regulations currently require that autonomous driving systems have a human driver ready to take control at all times, and it is unclear if Tesla's FSD Beta system will meet these regulations.
We invite readers to share their thoughts on this issue by commenting below or using the hashtags #ElonMusk and #NHTSA on social media. We would love to hear your perspectives on the potential removal of the steering wheel nag warning and the involvement of the NHTSA in this matter.
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