### NHTSA Investigates Tesla's Full Self-Driving Over Arizona Pedestrian Fatality and Other Crashes

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating the role of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature in a series of crashes, one of which resulted in a pedestrian's death. The fatal incident occurred in November 2023 in Arizona, involving a Model Y vehicle.

The NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is focusing on how FSD operates under conditions of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, fog, and airborne dust. These factors were present during the four collisions currently being scrutinized, all of which had either the beta or supervised versions of FSD active at the time.

The ODI aims to determine FSD's effectiveness in "detecting and responding appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions." Additionally, the investigation seeks to identify if there are other similar crashes where FSD was enabled. Part of the probe involves examining any updates by Tesla that might affect FSD's performance under these challenging visibility conditions. The review will assess the timing, purpose, and capabilities of these updates, along with Tesla's internal safety evaluations.

This investigation comes amid a broader examination into hundreds of crashes where Tesla's Autopilot system was engaged. The NHTSA earlier found that in 13 fatal crashes, drivers were often not adequately engaged. The warnings provided by Autopilot when Autosteer was active did not sufficiently ensure that drivers maintained their focus on driving.

The outcomes of this investigation could have significant implications for the future of autonomous driving technology and safety protocols, highlighting the importance of ensuring that drivers remain attentive, even with advanced driver-assistance systems in place.