The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced it is seeking information from Tesla regarding a driver assistance mode known as “Mad Max,” which purportedly allows vehicles to operate at higher speeds than previous versions. Reports from some Tesla owners on social media indicate that vehicles equipped with this more aggressive full self-driving (FSD) system may exceed posted speed limits.
The NHTSA stated that it is in contact with Tesla to gather additional details about the situation. It emphasized that the driver is ultimately responsible for operating the vehicle and adhering to traffic laws. Earlier this month, the agency initiated an investigation into approximately 2.9 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD due to numerous reports of traffic safety incidents and crashes.
The ongoing investigation includes 58 reports of traffic safety violations associated with FSD, among which are 14 crashes and 23 injuries. Tesla has not yet provided a response to NHTSA’s inquiries, but last week shared a social media post that described the Mad Max mode as enabling rapid navigation through traffic, likened to a sports car’s performance.
The NHTSA highlighted concerns that FSD has led to vehicle behavior in violation of traffic laws. Citing specific incidents, the agency reported six occurrences where Tesla vehicles with FSD engaged approached intersections with red signals and proceeded through, resulting in collisions.
Although Tesla claims that its FSD can operate “almost anywhere with your active supervision,” the system is not categorized as fully autonomous. Investigations into Tesla’s FSD system, which is more advanced than its autopilot feature, have been ongoing for approximately one year. Prior to this inquiry, an investigation into 2.4 million vehicles with FSD was initiated in October 2024, following four separate collisions in low-visibility conditions.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/oct/24/tesla-mad-max-driver-assistance-investigation