The California Department of Motor Vehicles is seeking a temporary suspension of Tesla’s manufacturing and sales licenses, accusing the company of misleading consumers by marketing its driver-assist systems (“Autopilot” and “Full Self Driving”) as capable of full autonomy. In reality, they remain Level 2 systems, requiring constant human oversight. While the suspension would be temporary, it would be a strong signal to other manufacturers about the need to more adequately inform drivers about the capabilities of the vehicles they operate.
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) has consistently raised similar concerns to federal policymakers on the issue. During a meeting with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last year, MRF President Kirk “Hardtail” Willard cited several examples of marketing by Tesla and other manufacturers that create a false sense of security when operating these vehicles. For motorcyclists sharing the roads, this translated into serious dangers.
An example of this occurred last year when Washington State Patrol confirmed that a Tesla, which hit and killed a motorcyclist near Seattle, was operating in “full self-driving mode” at the time of the crash. The MRF will monitor the action out in California and continue to voice our concerns here in Washington, D.C. about the deployment and marketing of this technology.
Join The MRF – visit https://www.mrf.org/join-the-mrf
