--- title: "Reckless Footage Shows Tesla Robotaxi Careening Through Heavy Rain at High Speed" description: "Terrifying new footage shows a Tesla robotaxi ripping through partially flooded streets in Austin, Texas, at alarming speeds." date: "2025-07-07" modified: "2025-07-07" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/tesla-robotaxi-careening-flood" categories: - "Advanced Transport" - "Tesla" tags: - "elon musk" - "full self-driving" - "robotaxis" - "tesla" --- # Reckless Footage Shows Tesla Robotaxi Careening Through Heavy Rain at High Speed ![Terrifying new footage shows a Tesla robotaxi ripping through partially flooded streets in Austin, Texas.]() *\Image: AI DRIVR via X\* Terrifying new [footage]() shows a Tesla robotaxi ripping through partially flooded streets in Austin, Texas. The clip, which [went viral]() on the r/SweatyPalms subreddit over the weekend, shows the modified Model Y blasting past human-operated vehicles that are operating with far more caution — while passing on the right lane, a no-no for prudent drivers. "That dude is leaving a permanent hand print on that door handle," one Reddit user [joked](), referring to the person in the driver's seat holding on for dear life. "There's probably a permanent mark on the seat too..." another user [added]() about the footage, which was [shared]() by a Tesla stan account called AI DRIVR on CEO Elon Musk's social media platform X. https://twitter.com/AIDRIVR/status/1941624385565077916 https://twitter.com/AIDRIVR/status/1941624385565077916 The company's pilot autonomous ride-hailing service launch has already [been mired in controversy](), from "[dropping off]()" a rider in the middle of a busy intersection and [cruising down the wrong side of the road]() to [driving nearly twice]() the posted speed limit. Intriguingly, another influencer [received a bizarre call]() during her first trip in a robotaxi last week, requiring her to exit the vehicle immediately due to incoming weather. In other words, Tesla's policies appear to be far from consistent across its entire fleet, highlighting the sheer amount of kinks the company still has to iron out before its robotaxis can safely coexist with human drivers on public streets. Tesla staffers were quick to jump in on the discussion. "Austin streets were very easily flooded, and teams did a lot of tests on hydroplaning and against heavy rain," senior staff engineer Yun-Ta Tsai [tweeted]() in response, seemingly trying to head off any concerns. However, judging by how the other drivers were treating the [onslaught of five inches of rain]() per hour, the robotaxi could've easily startled a white-knuckling resident trying to get home in a deluge. Tesla's autonomous driving tech also exclusively relies on camera sensors, making it far more vulnerable to inclement weather conditions, such as heavy fog or rain, compared to vehicles equipped with radar and LIDAR systems. The shortcoming was [demonstrated]() in a damning [video]() shared by YouTuber and former NASA engineer Mark Rober earlier this year. Is a robotaxi careening through inches of rain really a win for the EV maker, as AI DRIVR [made it out to be]() — or is this an instance of automated reckless driving? Tesla CEO Elon Musk has long argued that automating all driving tasks will eventually [lead to far fewer fatalities](). However, given the performance of his robotaxis over the last two weeks, such a future appears to still be a long way off. **More on Tesla's robotaxis:** *[Tesla Robotaxi Rider Gets Bizarre Call Saying She Has to Exit Vehicle Immediately]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()