The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has requested information from Tesla about a new driver assistance mode dubbed 'Mad Max', which reportedly allows vehicles to travel above speed limits. The regulator confirmed on Friday it was in contact with the manufacturer to gather additional details.
Social media posts and videos show Tesla vehicles using the more aggressive version of its full self-driving (FSD) system exceeding posted speed limits. One YouTuber described travelling at 75mph in a 50mph zone, saying 'I feel like we are racing down the street right now'.
The NHTSA earlier this month opened a broader investigation into 2.9 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after receiving 58 reports of traffic-safety violations and crashes, including 14 collisions and 23 injuries. The agency noted six incidents where vehicles with FSD engaged ran red lights and collided with other motor vehicles.
Tesla has not commented on the Mad Max probe, but last week reposted a social media description of the mode as accelerating and weaving 'through traffic at an incredible pace, all while still being super smooth'. The company states FSD requires active driver supervision and does not make the car fully autonomous.
The investigation adds to regulatory pressure on Tesla, whose FSD system has been under NHTSA scrutiny for over a year. In October 2024, the agency opened a probe into 2.4 million vehicles after four collisions in low-visibility conditions.
