Why US government is probing Tesla's 'Mad Max' driving mode
What's the story
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is seeking information from Tesla about its "Mad Max" driver assistance mode, as part of an ongoing investigation into the company's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. The feature is said to operate at higher speeds than other versions of the FSD. Some drivers have reported that this more aggressive version could even exceed posted speed limits.
Investigation details
NHTSA investigating 58 cases involving FSD
The NHTSA is investigating some 2.9 million Tesla vehicles with FSD, following multiple reports of traffic safety violations and crashes. The agency is looking into 58 cases involving traffic safety violations while using the FSD, including 14 crashes and 23 injuries. In six of these cases, a Tesla vehicle with FSD "approached an intersection with a red traffic signal" and continued into the intersection against the red light before crashing into other motor vehicles.
Company statement
Tesla yet to respond to NHTSA's request
Tesla has yet to respond to the NHTSA's request for information about the "Mad Max" mode. However, the company did share a social media post last week that described this new feature as one that accelerates and weaves "through traffic at an incredible pace, all while still being super smooth." The post further claimed it drives your car like a sports car and is ideal for those running late.
Ongoing investigation
Probe into Tesla's FSD system ongoing for a year
Tesla's FSD system, which is more advanced than its Autopilot, has been under NHTSA investigation for a year. In October 2024, the agency opened an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla models with FSD after four collisions in low-visibility conditions. The current probe into the "Mad Max" mode is just one part of the larger scrutiny facing Musk and his companies from regulatory agencies.