Tesla’s Automated Driving System Often Misreads Speed Limits: Belgian Safety Group

In Belgium, a road-safety advocacy group discovered that Tesla's FSD automated-driving system frequently disregarded speed limits and attempted to overtake cyclists on roads where such behavior is prohibited. Johanna.be, the Belgian group, tested the system over three days in July, covering approximately 400km. The tests revealed that the FSD system exceeded speed limits in 20km/h and 30km/h zones, and sometimes displayed incorrect or higher speed limits, which could mislead drivers about the appropriate vehicle speed.

The European Union's transportation regulator, RDW, approved the FSD system in April, prompting similar approvals from several EU countries, including Sweden. However, some EU nations, such as Sweden, have raised concerns about the system exceeding speed limits. The Flemish government's transport ministry in Belgium, which approved the FSD, maintains that it is a learning system that adapts over time, and the driver remains fully responsible for adhering to traffic laws.

The group's report highlighted positive aspects of the FSD, such as its cautious and courteous behavior around pedestrians and cyclists. Nevertheless, the documented failures to comply with speed limits and cycle-street regulations outweigh those benefits. Johanna.be urged the Flemish ministry and RDW to reassess their approvals, emphasizing the system's potential for accident prevention.