Tesla's robotaxi service in Austin has faced immediate safety concerns, with videos showing incidents like wrong-side driving and unsafe braking. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is reviewing these events but its regulatory power is weakened due to staff cuts and a historically lax approach to autonomous vehicle regulation. While NHTSA has investigated previous Tesla Autopilot incidents, its ability to effectively curb Tesla's actions is limited, leaving states with limited recourse. The lack of robust federal oversight raises serious safety concerns regarding the deployment of autonomous vehicles.

Prepared by Jonathan Pierce and reviewed by editorial team.