Tesla's supervised self-driving system often misreads speed limits, Belgian safety group finds - Reuters

A road‑safety advocacy group in Belgium has reported that Tesla’s Full Self‑Driving (FSD) system frequently exceeds posted speed limits and attempts maneuvers that are prohibited in certain traffic situations. The group, Johanna.be, conducted tests over three days in July, covering roughly 400 kilometres of public roads.

During the tests, the FSD system was found to regularly drive 20 km/h and 30 km/h above the speed limits in zones designated for those speeds. In addition, the system displayed higher speed‑limit signs to the driver than were actually present, potentially giving a misleading indication of the appropriate speed. The tests also recorded instances where the system tried to overtake cyclists on streets where overtaking is not allowed.

FSD is marketed as a supervised driver‑assistance feature that can perform many driving tasks but requires the driver to keep full attention and remain ready to intervene. The Dutch vehicle authority RDW approved the system in April, and Belgium, along with a small number of other European countries, subsequently authorized its use. An EU‑wide decision on the broader approval of the technology is scheduled for a vote on 6 October.

Several EU member states, including Sweden, have voiced concerns that the system may not reliably respect speed limits. Countries that have already approved FSD maintain that ultimate responsibility for complying with traffic laws rests with the driver, regardless of the system’s capabilities.

Tesla has not commented directly on the Belgian findings, but the company released a study in September indicating that vehicles equipped with FSD do not speed excessively and tend to travel at speeds comparable to surrounding traffic.

Xavier Lesenne, spokesperson for the Flemish government’s transportation ministry, which approved the use of FSD in Belgium earlier this year, reiterated that the system is permitted under existing regulations, emphasizing the need for drivers to stay attentive and in control while the technology is active.