Congressman presses DOT on Tesla FSD after 43 sleeping

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Published: 2026-09-10T15:50:26.020Z • Permanent link

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois, has taken aim at the Department of Transportation (DOT) over its handling of Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) features. Krishnamoorthi, a former chief economist for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, has long been a vocal critic of Tesla's safety record and the company's ability to self-regulate. In a letter to the DOT, Krishnamoorthi demanded to know what steps the agency is taking to address the growing concerns surrounding Tesla's Autopilot system, which has been linked to dozens of accidents and near-misses.

Krishnamoorthi's investigation into Tesla's FSD program was sparked by a report from NBC News that surfaced dozens of videos of drivers using the feature in ways that raised red flags for safety experts. The report highlighted numerous instances of drivers using FSD in reckless or inattentive ways, including speeding, running red lights, and failing to yield to pedestrians. The DOT has been criticized for its lack of oversight and regulation of the Autopilot system, which has been on the market since 2015. Tesla's FSD program, which is still in beta testing, has been touted as a revolutionary advancement in autonomous vehicle technology, but Krishnamoorthi and other lawmakers are sounding the alarm on the risks associated with its development.

Krishnamoorthi's office has been in contact with the DOT and other federal agencies, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), to press for greater oversight and regulation of the Autopilot system. The congressman has also called on Tesla to take immediate action to address the safety concerns surrounding FSD, including revising its testing protocols and providing more detailed information to regulators about the system's performance. As the debate over the safety of Tesla's Autopilot and FSD features continues to gain traction, Krishnamoorthi's efforts are likely to have a significant impact on the development of autonomous vehicle technology in the United States.

The controversy surrounding Tesla's Autopilot and FSD features has significant implications for the AI and tech ecosystem, with major players in the industry watching the debate closely. Companies like Waymo, Uber, and Lyft are all working on their own autonomous vehicle technologies, and the debate over the safety of Tesla's Autopilot system is likely to inform their own approaches to regulation and testing. Research communities are also taking notice, with many experts warning that the lack of oversight and regulation in the industry could lead to a proliferation of unsafe vehicles on the road.

The impact of the controversy on the automotive industry as a whole is also likely to be significant. With autonomous vehicles set to revolutionize the way we travel, the debate over their safety is likely to have far-reaching consequences for the industry as a whole. As regulators and lawmakers grapple with the challenges of regulating autonomous vehicle technology, the stakes are high for companies like Tesla, which are leading the charge in this area. If the industry fails to address the safety concerns surrounding Autopilot and FSD, it could undermine the public's trust in autonomous vehicles and delay their widespread adoption.

The controversy surrounding Tesla's Autopilot and FSD features is part of a larger debate over the regulation of autonomous vehicle technology in the United States. The DOT has been criticized for its lack of oversight and regulation of the Autopilot system, which has been on the market since 2015. The lack of regulation has allowed Tesla to self-regulate its own safety protocols, leading to concerns that the company is prioritizing profits over safety. This approach has been contrasted with that of other countries, such as the United Kingdom and Japan, which have implemented stricter regulations on the development and deployment of autonomous vehicle technology.