--- title: "Government Alarmed by Videos of Tesla Robotaxis Immediately Breaking Road Laws" description: "Tesla is already in trouble over its Robotaxi rollout in Austin, which has already captured the attention of vehicle regulators." date: "2025-06-24" modified: "2025-06-24" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/government-tesla-robotaxis-videos" categories: - "Advanced Transport" - "Tesla" tags: - "austin" - "NHTSA" - "robotaxi" - "tesla" --- # Government Alarmed by Videos of Tesla Robotaxis Immediately Breaking Road Laws ![Tesla is already in trouble over its Robotaxi rollout in Austin, which has already captured the attention of vehicle regulators.]() *\Image: Andrew Harnik / Getty / Futurism\* Tesla is already in hot water over its Robotaxi rollout in Austin. As [*Bloomberg* reports,]() the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) contacted Tesla just a single day after its Robotaxi launch over apparent traffic violations [captured on video]() and posted to social media. Since Sunday, the Elon Musk-owned electric carmaker has been offering autonomous rides, albeit with a [human safety monitor](), to a select few individuals willing to pay for the novelty. As videos taken in the wake of the launch show, the Robotaxis are no better than Google's self-driving Waymo cabs — and likely markedly worse — which also [roam the streets of Austin](). One such video, [filmed by a backseat passenger](), shows the steering wheel of a Robotaxi begin jerking left and right as its navigation system snaps between two different routes. Though the Tesla eventually corrects itself, it then begins to drift over the double yellow line — though luckily, there was no oncoming traffic. In perhaps the most viral of the incidents, one of the autonomous cabs is seen [braking repeatedly upon driving past police cars]() — a maneuver more reminiscent of stoned teen drivers freaking out about a joint in their glove box than the vanguard of the tech industry's transportation solutions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpARr8DVU2M Though this new government interest in Robotaxis falls short of a formal investigation, it's still bad news for Tesla, which is the subject of a [growing list of NHTSA probes]() — and its [janky]() and [dangerous autonomous driving tech]() is of particular concern to the agency. "NHTSA is aware of the referenced incidents and is in contact with the manufacturer to gather additional information," the agency said in a [statement emailed to *TechCrunch*](). "Following an assessment of those reports and other relevant information, NHTSA will take any necessary actions to protect road safety." "Under US law, NHTSA does not pre-approve new technologies or vehicle systems," the statement continued. "Rather, manufacturers certify that each vehicle meets NHTSA's rigorous safety standards, and the agency investigates incidents involving potential safety defects." Last month, [*Electrek* reported]() that the agency had grown concerned that Tesla's problematic "[Full Self-Driving]()" feature — which the company was forced to rename to "[Intelligent Assisted Driving]()" in China because the tech doesn't allow for full autonomy — would be used for the Robotaxis. Tesla was, apparently, able to assuage those concerns ahead of the launch — but that band-aid doesn't seem to be sticking now that the not-so-self-driving taxis are [gumming up the roads]() of Austin. And the elephant in the room: until last month, Musk was best buddies with Donald Trump, making it likely he could slide out of federal accountability for mismanaged rollouts. Since that relationship imploded spectacularly, though, the reverse dynamic is likely now true: loyal Trump regulators could instead have it out for Tesla. **More on Robotaxis:** [*Disturbing Test Shows What Happens When Tesla Robotaxi Sees a Child Mannequin Pop Out From Behind a School Bus*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()