Terrifying footage shows a Tesla robotaxi navigating partially flooded streets in Austin, Texas, moving past cautious human drivers. The pilot autonomous ride-hailing service has faced several controversies, including improper drop-offs and excessive speeding. Inconsistent policies across the fleet raise safety concerns. Tesla staff indicate thorough testing in heavy rain, but the reliance on camera sensors leaves the robotaxi vulnerable. Incidents of panic among passengers during unusual weather further highlight the challenges facing Tesla's autonomous driving technology.
The clip, which went viral on the r/SweatyPalms subreddit, 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.
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 to driving nearly twice the posted speed limit.
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.
Austin streets were very easily flooded, and teams did a lot of tests on hydroplaning and against heavy rain, according to senior staff engineer Yun-Ta Tsai.
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