A road safety advocacy organization has reported that Tesla's FSD autonomous driving system frequently exceeds speed limits and attempts to overtake cyclists in no-passing zones, based on tests conducted in Belgium.
The Belgian group Johanna.be, which focuses on pedestrian and cyclist safety, conducted a three-day test of the system in July, covering approximately 400 kilometers (249 miles). The test revealed that the system repeatedly exceeded speed limits in 20 km/h and 30 km/h zones and displayed incorrectly higher speed limits to drivers, which could mislead them about the appropriate driving speed.
Tesla's FSD driver assistance feature handles most driving tasks but requires the driver to remain fully attentive. The Dutch regulator RDW approved the system in April, and Belgium, along with several other countries, subsequently followed suit. A Europe-wide vote on the matter may take place on October 6th. Several EU member states, including Sweden, have expressed concerns about FSD causing vehicles to speed, while the countries that approved the system emphasize that the responsibility for obeying traffic laws remains with the driver.
A study released by Tesla earlier this month indicated that vehicles with FSD enabled do not excessively speed, maintaining a pace consistent with surrounding traffic. Xavier Lesenne, a spokesman for the Flemish government's transport department, which approved FSD in Belgium earlier this year, described it as a "learning system" that continuously processes new and additional information and adjusts itself over time. Lesenne noted that the driver "still bears 100 percent responsibility" and must always be ready to intervene if "the system makes an error or fails to correctly implement traffic rules." He added that data provided by Tesla suggests the technology "holds significant potential for preventing accidents today."
However, Johanna.be found that on Brussels' 30 km/h roads, FSD exceeded the limit in most instances, averaging 44 km/h. Despite the in-car screen indicating the system recognized the roadside 30 km/h signs, it often displayed a speed limit of 50 km/h. The report stated: "It's like having a passenger who continuously tells the driver the speed limit is 50 km/h as the vehicle passes nearly every 30 km/h zone." Video footage collected by the organization showed FSD-equipped Teslas attempting to overtake cyclists in areas where overtaking is prohibited.
The European Transport Safety Council has previously voiced concerns, questioning whether FSD can adapt to the varying traffic regulations across Europe. The Johanna.be report also acknowledged positive aspects of the system, noting it "behaves cautiously and politely when encountering pedestrians and cyclists, often yielding proactively." However, these benefits "cannot outweigh the proven violations regarding speed limit compliance and bicycle street regulations." The NGO stated it has submitted the report to the relevant Flemish government authorities and the Dutch Vehicle Authority (RDW), urging both parties to reassess their approval decisions.
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