The USDOT secretary says marketing doesn’t fall under his department’s investigative authority, but expressed disapproval of language that implies autonomous operation.
Acknowledging that “marketing language is not part of his department’s investigations,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg nevertheless warned that Tesla’s use of the term ‘autopilot’ is misleading and “belies Tesla’s own requirement for drivers to keep both hands on the wheel.”
As Keith Laing reports in Bloomberg, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) “opened an investigations into possible Autopilot defects in August 2021 and a subsequent probe into inadvertent braking in Feb. 2022.” Buttigieg declined to comment on the NHTSA investigation, but said the language was a matter of common sense.
While the Department of Transportation chief doesn’t claim regulatory authority over naming conventions, another arm of the government does: The Justice Department. US prosecutors have been looking into whether Tesla has made misleading statements about Autopilot’s capabilities, Bloomberg reported in October.
The company has also been criticized for its so-called ‘Full Self-Driving’ mode, which also required a fully engaged driver behind the wheel. The carmaker recalled more than 360,000 vehicles in February due to concerns over safety failures in the software. In December 2022, California banned Tesla from using the term 'Full Self-Driving' and other deceptive language on vehicles sold in the state. An op-ed in CalMatters calls on California state leaders to crack down on Tesla to protect Californians and ensure the technology is safe before being widely deployed.
FULL STORY: Tesla Autopilot Doesn’t Live Up to Its Name, Buttigieg Says
Majority of American Drivers ‘Afraid’ of ‘Self-Driving’ Cars
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Recall Affects Over 360,000 Tesla Cars with ‘Full Self-Driving’ Software
Federal regulators are asking the carmaker to update the software on vehicles equipped with FSD due to its poor safety record.
Study: Many Driver Assist Users Consider Their Cars Self-Driving
Almost half of drivers using Tesla and GMC driver assist technology report feeling comfortable treating their cars as fully autonomous.
The Slow Death of Ride Sharing
From the beginning, TNCs like Lyft and Uber touted shared rides as their key product. Now, Lyft is ending the practice.
Cool Walkability Planning
Shadeways (covered sidewalks) and pedways (enclosed, climate controlled walkways) can provide comfortable walkability in hot climates. The Cool Walkshed Index can help plan these facilities.
Congestion Pricing Could Be Coming to L.A.
The infamously car-centric city is weighing a proposed congestion pricing pilot program to reduce traffic and encourage public transit use.
Who Benefits Most from Land Conservation Efforts?
A new study estimates that recent land conservation generated $9.8 billion in wealth nationally through the housing market and that wealthier and White households benefited disproportionately.
Richmond Repeals Parking Minimums, Encourages Off-Street Parking and Transit
The Virginia city is replete with underused off-street parking lots, which city councilors hope to make available for parking at more times while encouraging transit use.
Lack of Multi-Family Zones Contributes to Nashville’s High Housing Costs, Study Says
Nashville and surrounding communities allow for a relatively small amount of multi-family housing, according to a new zoning atlas of Middle Tennessee. A regionally focused nonprofit is using the atlas to push for zoning reforms.
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
City of Orange
City of Charlotte - Charlotte Area Transit
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Montrose County
Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department
City of Lomita
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
