Full Self-Driving Doesn't Do Road Rage, Says Tesla

Forbes

20 hours ago

The images show the Tesla Model Y equipped with its Level 2 autonomous driving capabilities. The photos highlight the vehicle's logo, the navigation screen displaying real-time traffic and autonomous driving interface, and the interior with hands-off steering functionality, underlining Tesla's advanced driver assistance systems in Bari, Italy, on December 10, 2024. (Photo by Matteo Della Torre/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NurPhoto via Getty Images
Tesla made some valid points on Tuesday about Full Self-Driving.
In a post on X, Tesla said 'FSD Supervised does not drive under the influence, is never tired, doesn't drive recklessly, and doesn't experience road rage.'
Tesla is actually making the case for all Advanced Driver Assist Systems or ADAS. The benefits of an ADAS outweigh the risks. That's my conclusion after testing – over the past 12 months – ADAS on EVs from General Motors (Super Cruise), Rivian (Highway Assist), Ford (Bluecruise), Lucid (DreamDrive) and Tesla. (See this video of 2026 Tesla Model Y 'Juniper' using the latest version of FSD.)
In 2024, there were 39,345 US traffic fatalities. Needless to say, practically all involved human drivers. That increasingly means distracted drivers using their smart device. And last time I checked, an ADAS does not get distracted, doesn't go into a rage, and doesn't drink and drive. That means, on balance, a Tesla with FSD – and any reputable ADAS for that matter – makes the roads safer. As long as the driver is paying attention and can take over when the ADAS glitches.
Needless to say, ADAS aren't foolproof or flawless, as the occasional high-profile incident makes clear. I've been in a Tesla when FSD missed seeing a community gate, which, without intervention, would have resulted in an accident. That was in a previous version of FSD. Earlier this summer, however, I test drove a brand new 2026 Model Y with the latest version of FSD (this was after the video linked to above). It glitched when FSD got confused at a complex intersection, then headed into opposing traffic (see video). And GM's SuperCruise, based on my experience, also makes the rare risky mistake, as do all of the other ADAS listed above.
ADAS are still at the stage where they can't handle some complex scenarios. They simply aren't smart enough to grasp rapidly changing traffic conditions in some cases. That can be dangerous if you're not paying attention. To put it technically, most ADAS are SAE Level 2. In a nutshell that means you have to stay focused and cannot just let the car drive itself unsupervised.
Tesla does offer its own warning about FSD. For example: 'Driver intervention may be required in certain situations, such as on narrow roads with oncoming cars, in construction zones, or while going through complex intersections.' And Tesla lists other caveats and various scenarios in which driver intervention might be required. But on balance…
On balance, however, I believe Tesla Full Self-Driving, if used prudently, makes you a better driver and the roads safer. Tesla said in the same X post (above): 'With 360 degree vision & reaction time much faster than the average human driver, FSD Supervised makes traffic safer for you + other road users.' That's true in some cases. Two (seemingly contradictory) things can be true at the same time: yes, an ADAS will make mistakes but it if used properly can make the roads safer.
The highways where I live in Los Angeles are teeming with distracted drivers and those drivers would benefit greatly from a fully-focused ADAS like Tesla FSD. And an ADAS is great on long, monotonous highway trips where it's easy to lose focus and get drowsy. The trick is not to overestimate FSD's capabilities and let your guard down. Do that and you're likely asking for trouble.