The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is evaluating a petition regarding reports of Tesla Robotaxis exceeding speed limits in active school zones. The agency has opened file DP26010 to determine if a formal investigation is necessary. The petition, received on September 23, focuses on 2026 model year vehicles operating with the Automated Driving System.
NHTSA estimates the affected fleet size at approximately 1,000 vehicles, including Model Y and Cybercab units. This figure represents the first federal data regarding the scale of Tesla's robotaxi operations. The agency has until January 21, 2027, to decide whether to grant the petition, which could potentially lead to a formal defect investigation and a vehicle recall.
The evidence submitted includes three social media videos and four incidents recorded in the agency's database, with no reports of crashes or injuries. This action follows other recent federal scrutiny, including an audit query and a special order concerning the certification of the Cybercab, which lacks traditional steering wheels and pedals.
Tesla launched commercial robotaxi services in Austin on September 3. Previous software concerns have surfaced, including reports of traffic law violations and speed limit issues linked to the Full Self-Driving system. Unlike supervised systems, the robotaxi fleet operates without a human driver, placing responsibility for driving decisions directly on the manufacturer's software.
