The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is digging into Tesla’s new “Mad Max” driver‑assistance mode, a high‑speed setting for the company’s Full Self‑Driving (FSD) system. The agency says it is reaching out to Tesla for more details.
Social media users have warned that cars using Mad Max can go faster than posted limits and even weave between vehicles at a “sports‑car” pace. Some drivers reported that their Teslas entered intersections on red lights or pushed speed limits while the system was active, which has raised safety concerns.
In early October, NHTSA opened a probe into 2.9 million Teslas equipped with FSD after dozens of reports of traffic‑law violations and crashes. The investigation covers 58 incidents, including 14 crashes that caused 23 injuries. Six cases involve Teslas running red lights while the FSD was on, leading to collisions that injured occupants and other drivers.
Tesla says the FSD feature can drive the car “almost anywhere” with the driver’s active supervision, and it is not a fully autonomous system. The company has not yet responded to NHTSA’s request for comment.
Earlier this year, NHTSA started a separate investigation into 2.4 million Teslas after four accidents in low‑visibility conditions. The “Mad Max” mode has also been covered by outlets such as The Washington Post, which highlighted the potential dangers of pushing the assistant system beyond recommended limits.
For drivers, the key message is clear: even with FSD or Mad Max, the human behind the wheel remains fully responsible for obeying speed limits, traffic signals, and staying alert while the car is in motion. Tesla’s new setting highlights how far the company is pushing active driver assistance, but it also underscores the continuing need for vigilance on the road.
Source: New York Post
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