Tesla Robotaxi Spotted Driving Against Traffic On Launch Day; Asks NHTSA To Hide Reply To Robotaxi Questions

Tesla's newly launched robotaxi service in Austin encountered key safety issues on its inaugural day, with video evidence capturing one of the autonomous vehicles traveling in the wrong traffic lane. The incident has prompted regulators to launch an investigation into the Elon Musk-owned company's autonomous driving capabilities. The video of a robotaxi involved in safety violation was posted on Reddit. Watch it below:

https://publish.reddit.com/embed?url=https://www.reddit.com/r/SelfDrivingCars/comments/1li2cil/tesla_robotaxi_day_1_significant_screwup_not_oc/

Robotaxi Launch Marred By Traffic Violations

Despite widespread praise from Tesla fans and social media influencers who described their rides as "smooth" and "natural," the robotaxi service faced immediate scrutiny when footage emerged showing dangerous driving behaviour. The autonomous vehicle was recorded briefly operating in oncoming traffic lanes, raising serious safety concerns about the technology's readiness for commercial deployment.

Safety Agency Demands Answers

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had previously submitted a comprehensive list of questions to Tesla regarding the robotaxi service, requiring responses by June 19. The regulatory agency expressed particular concern about Tesla's decision to deploy its "Supervised Full Self-Driving" technology for commercial passenger service while the system remains under federal investigation for its role in multiple serious accidents.

Tesla has submitted its responses to NHTSA but has specifically requested that all information remain confidential from public disclosure. This request continues the automaker's pattern of limiting transparency regarding its autonomous driving systems and crash data.

Notably, Tesla's robotaxi service operates with a company employee positioned in the front passenger seat, maintaining constant contact with what appears to be a reprogrammed emergency stop mechanism. This safety oversight suggests the autonomous system may not meet Level 4 autonomy standards required for commercial self-driving operations in Texas, suggest reports.

NHTSA Response

Federal safety regulators have confirmed awareness of the reported incidents and that they are collecting additional information from Tesla regarding the service's operational safety.

"NHTSA is aware of the referenced incidents and is in contact with the manufacturer to gather additional information. NHTSA will continue to enforce the law on all manufacturers of motor vehicles and equipment, in accordance with the Vehicle Safety Act and our data-driven, risk-based investigative process. Under U.S. law, NHTSA does not pre-approve new technologies or vehicle systems – rather, manufacturers certify that each vehicle meets NHTSA's rigorous safety standards, and the agency investigates incidents involving potential safety defects. Following an assessment of those reports and other relevant information, NHTSA will take any necessary actions to protect road safety," according to Electrek.

Data Transparency Gap

Musk has previously stated that "Transparency is the key to trust," yet the company has maintained limited public disclosure regarding its autonomous driving development. The automaker has never released comprehensive performance data beyond cumulative mileage figures, which provide minimal insight into system reliability or safety metrics.