Tesla’s Full Self-Driving System Under Scrutiny in Belgium
Tom Hayes recently shared his thoughts on Tesla’s stock, suggesting that the company is valued as if it can do no wrong. He even dubbed Elon Musk as the “Thomas Edison” of our era. However, he also cautioned investors about the risks associated with such a lofty stock price.
In a recent evaluation, Belgium’s road-safety advocacy group, Johanna.be, reported notable issues with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. After testing the system over about 400 kilometers—roughly 249 miles—in July, the group found that FSD frequently exceeded speed limits and sometimes attempted to pass cyclists in areas where that’s not allowed.
The testing revealed persistent problems in low-speed zones of 20 km/h and 30 km/h. Specifically, the report noted that the FSD consistently displayed incorrect speed limits, misleading drivers. In many of the 30 km/h zones around Brussels, the cars were recorded traveling at an average speed of 44 km/h, which is around 27 mph.
The findings were not all negative, though. There were reports of FSD acting cautiously and yielding to pedestrians and cyclists. Moreover, although the system recognized speed-limit signs, it often displayed the wrong limits—like a passenger repeatedly assuring a driver that the maximum allowed speed is, say, 50 km/h in a 30 km/h zone.
Interestingly, Tesla disputes the findings. The company previously released a study claiming that its FSD-equipped vehicles do not excessively speed and generally match the flow of surrounding traffic.
Xavier Lesenne, a representative from the Flemish transportation ministry which approved the FSD for use in Belgium, described the system as a “learning” model that adapts over time. He emphasized, however, that drivers remain fully responsible for their vehicles and must be ready to intervene if the system fails to follow traffic rules appropriately.
The report comes on the heels of regulatory approvals for Tesla’s FSD in Belgium and other countries, following an endorsement from the Dutch regulator earlier this year. An EU-wide vote regarding the system could happen as soon as next month.
As Tesla navigates these concerns, industry watchers are eager to see how they will respond to the increasing scrutiny surrounding their autonomous driving technology.
