Tesla's Robotaxis: A Bumpy Start to Autonomous Rides

Tesla's self-driving taxis hit the road for paid rides, but not without some hiccups. On their first day, these autonomous vehicles seemed to bend the rules of traffic laws. A video captured by Rob Maurer, a Tesla investor, showed a Model Y making a messy left turn. The car hesitated, then swerved into the wrong lane, crossing a double-yellow line. This is a big no-no in driving rules. It wasn't the only issue. Other riders shared videos of Teslas speeding. One car, carrying investor Sawyer Merritt, hit 35 mph after passing a 30 mph sign. In another video, YouTuber Herbert Ong noted his Tesla was going 39 mph in a 35 mph zone. He joked that it was perfect because it matched the flow of traffic. But is it really okay to break speed limits just because others are doing it? Tesla didn't respond to requests for comments. Neither did the Austin Police Department nor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This isn't Tesla's first rodeo with traffic law issues. In February 2023, they recalled over 362, 000 vehicles because their driver-assistance system might let cars break local traffic laws. Despite the bumps, Tesla CEO Elon Musk celebrated the launch. He congratulated employees on a successful start. Tesla shares jumped 11% on Monday, their biggest intraday jump since April. But is this really a success if the cars can't follow the rules? Autonomous vehicles are supposed to be the future. They should be safer and more reliable than human drivers. But if they can't even follow basic traffic laws, how can we trust them? It's a big question for Tesla and the future of self-driving cars.