The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) earlier confirmed that it is requesting more information from Tesla regarding the new "Mad Max" mode in its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. This is part of NHTSA's ongoing safety investigation into Tesla's fully autonomous driving technology.
Tesla previously claimed that "Mad Max" mode will allow for higher speeds and more frequent lane changes than the existing Hurry speed setting.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: We are collecting information, and drivers still bear full responsibility
National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationdisplay"We are contacting the manufacturer to gather more information," the company said, while reiterating that "the human behind the wheel is fully responsible for operating the vehicle and complying with all traffic safety regulations."
The investigation into "Mad Max" mode stems from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's reopened investigation into Tesla's fully autonomous driving system earlier this month. At the time, the NHTSA stated that the fully autonomous driving technology "induces vehicle behavior that violates traffic safety laws," citing reports that some Tesla vehicles with fully autonomous driving engaged had engaged in dangerous situations, such as running red lights and driving against traffic.
"Mad Max" mode restarted, and then there were reports of violations
In fact, the "Mad Max" mode is not a new concept. Tesla first offered a similar driving style option in 2018 (when fully automatic assisted driving was not yet popular).
However, shortly after Tesla re-enabled the "Mad Max" mode this month, reports began to emerge of Tesla vehicles with this mode enabled committing violations such as "ignoring stop signs" and "speeding."
Trump administration cuts to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's self-driving safety team
The report also mentioned a piece of background information: Earlier this year, some National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) personnel were reportedly laid off under the Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE) initiative led by President Trump. Among these layoffs were three members of the team responsible for autonomous vehicle safety, raising concerns about whether this move would affect NHTSA's ability to oversee autonomous vehicle technology.
