Attorney Amy Witherite, a traffic safety expert whose firm specializes in motor vehicle accidents, cautions that the newly announced National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation into Tesla’s controversial full self-driving (FSD) technology may be a case of “too little, too late” given that millions of vehicles equipped with this technology are already on the road.

In one accident under investigation, a Tesla in the FSD mode fails to slow down or stop when approaching an active railroad crossing with signals activated and a freight train on the tracks. While it is foggy the train and warning lights can clearly be seen in Dashcam video.

“It is the wild-wild west when it comes to self-driving technology, robotaxis and autonomous vehicles of all kinds,” says Witherite whose law firm has more than thirty cases involving Tesla vehicles. “Regulators and lawmakers are so enamored with the technology they have failed to take significant action to make sure that it is carefully regulated and safe before it is put into use on our highways.”

Currently, there are no federal regulations specifically focused on autonomous vehicles, although they must meet broader safety rules. The NHTSA has little power to review technology on vehicles before they are sold to the public.

One of the biggest challenges in terms of safety and regulation is that each company utilizes its proprietary technology for its self-driving systems. The use of proprietary technology will require extensive discovery by attorneys representing victims of accidents as well as technical expertise to interpret the data.

Tesla has twice recalled the FSD. “The ‘full self-driving’ recalls arrived after a three-year investigation into Tesla’s less-sophisticated Autopilot system crashing into emergency and other vehicles parked on highways, many with warning lights flashing. The NHTSA said it found 467 crashes involving Autopilot resulting in 54 injuries and 14 deaths.

“The bottom line is that these self-driving, autonomous and robotaxis are being tested on our nation’s streets and highways at the expense of public safety,” said Witherite. “Some commentators have suggested that the threat of lawsuits may be the only thing that reigns in companies bent on monetizing this technology since state and local governments seem unwilling to act.”

The Witherite Law Group specializes in vehicle accident cases and offers crucial support for individuals involved in accidents with driverless vehicles. For more information visit their website. www.witheritelaw.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241022780230/en/