U.S. Regulator Probes Tesla's ‘Mad Max' Mode Over Safety Concerns

Core Viewpoint - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating Tesla's new "Mad Max" driver-assistance mode due to concerns about its potential to allow vehicles to exceed posted speed limits, amidst ongoing scrutiny of the company's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system [1][2]. Group 1: Investigation and Incidents - NHTSA's inquiry coincides with over 50 reports of traffic-safety violations and several crashes involving Tesla's FSD system, which is installed in approximately 2.9 million vehicles [2]. - The Department of Transportation documented 58 incidents involving Tesla vehicles using FSD, including 14 crashes and 23 injuries, linked to red-light violations and improper direction of travel [3]. Group 2: Features and Concerns - Descriptions of the "Mad Max" mode indicate it allows for faster speeds and more frequent lane changes compared to other FSD modes [3]. - Tesla reported one crash for every 6.36 million miles driven with Autopilot engaged in Q3 2025, contrasting with one crash every 720,000 miles for all U.S. vehicles based on NHTSA data from 2023 [4]. Group 3: Regulatory Scrutiny - Tesla's automation systems have faced regulatory scrutiny for years, with past concerns leading to a recall of over 50,000 vehicles due to a feature that allowed vehicles to move through stop signs without fully stopping [5]. - The introduction of "Mad Max" mode has reignited concerns regarding Tesla's software practices, as the company is under investigation by multiple agencies, including NHTSA and the California Department of Motor Vehicles [5].