The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is calling on its sister agency to implement stricter regulations related to automated vehicle technology. In a letter sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in early February (via CNBC), the NTSB says the regulator “must act” to “develop a solid security foundation”. What is striking about the document is that NTSB President Robert Sumwalt often quotes Tesla in a negative light to support his department’s suggestions. The automaker is referenced 16 times on the 15 pages of the letter.
For example, in one section, Sumwalt writes about NHTSA’s “continued failure” to implement regulations that would prevent driver assistance systems like autopilot from operating beyond its intended use. “Since NHTSA has not implemented any requirements, manufacturers can operate and test vehicles virtually anywhere, even if the location exceeds the limitations of the AV control system,” writes Sumwalt. “For example, Tesla recently launched a beta version of its Level 2 Autopilot system, described as having full autonomous driving capabilities. In launching the system, Tesla is testing highly automated AV technology on public roads, but with limited supervision or reporting requirements. “
This is not the first time that the NTSB has criticized Tesla and its sister agency. When he held a hearing last year about the 2018 fatal accident that killed Apple developer Walter Haung, Sumwalt expressed frustration with both NHTSA and Tesla. “Government regulators have provided little oversight,” he said of the former, while criticizing the automaker for not responding to its recommendations. But there is little the agency can do other than issue recommendations. As part of its role in investigating traffic accidents, it has no authority to regulate or even enforce any of the safety measures it suggests. That responsibility lies with NHTSA. Under the Trump administration, the agency primarily left state regulators to decide how to address the issue of automated vehicle technologies.