In 2025, approximately 36,640 traffic fatalities were recorded in the United States. Tesla currently charges $99 per month for its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, a service that is utilized by 15% of the company's customer base.
The author suggests that Tesla could offset the loss of the $800 million annual revenue generated by FSD subscriptions by introducing a one-time $500 safety fee on new vehicle purchases. This change would aim to increase the adoption of FSD among owners of vehicles equipped with Hardware 4.
Proposed measures to boost FSD usage include making the system the default driving mode instead of requiring manual activation. Additionally, the author recommends offering substantial insurance discounts for drivers who utilize the system for more than 90% of their driving time.
The article references the 1959 invention of the three-point seatbelt by Nils Bohlin, who provided the design to other manufacturers without cost to improve safety. It draws a parallel to Tesla's decision to open its Supercharger network, now known as the North American Charging Standard, to other automakers.
