Alarmed by Tesla’s public self-driving test, state legislators demand answers from DMV

State Senate Transportation Committee Chair Lena Gonzalez, shown in 2019, is asking California’s Department of Motors Vehicles for safety-related information on Tesla’s controversial self-driving “beta test.” Tesla is developing driverless cars on California’s public roadways using its own customers as test drivers and shrugging off test-reporting requirements — and, so far, the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles has been largely content to look the other way. One YouTuber described FSD’s errant steering as an “assassination attempt.” After FSD aimed the Tesla at another car, the driver said that “FSD tried to murder us.” Gonzalez told Gordon in her letter that “I have seen a number of videos of Tesla vehicles operating with FSD engaged where it appears that serious driving errors were made and collisions were avoided only because of swift action by the driver.” She noted she lacks data on FSD beta safety but wrote that the DMV “has the knowledge to assess these situations,” and she requested answers to several questions: “What is your assessment of the FSD beta trials?” “Is there a danger to the public?” “If the DMV finds the beta program unsafe, how does the DMV plan to address any potential concerns?” The DMV said it was reviewing Gonzalez’s letter. “If Tesla is not, we need to know why they are not or why the DMV feels they don’t need to.” DMV spokeswoman Anita Gore told The Times in a prepared statement that Tesla need not report FSD beta crashes because Tesla informed the agency that Full Self-Driving is a “Level 2” system that requires driver attention. “It may be time for a relevant committee or joint hearing to explore where we are today.” State Sen. Ben Allen agrees: “If Tesla is really operating within the boundaries of state law with this technology, then we likely need to change the law to protect public safety.” No one has been reported killed or seriously injured by errant FSD beta technology, but Jennifer Homendy, head of the National Traffic Safety Board, the federal government’s crash investigator, said, “It shouldn’t require a fatality for regulators and politicians to take action” on Tesla’s FSD deployment.