PolicySeptember 10, 2026

Tesla FSD under pressure in the US. 43 videos of drowsy drivers submitted to regulators

Marcin Tymków

American congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has demanded a response from the Department of Transportation regarding Tesla after NBC News collected 43 videos of drivers appearing to be asleep behind the wheel while driving. The deadline is September 30, and this comes on top of an ongoing NHTSA investigation involving approximately 3.2 million Tesla vehicles with FSD.

For Tesla users, this is not just another online drama. It involves a very simple question: can the driver monitoring system be fooled so easily that the entire safety system becomes ineffective?

Congressman asks about FSD and what NHTSA will do

The letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy dates back to September 9. Krishnamoorthi cites an NBC News investigation that found 43 videos of drivers who appeared to be asleep while driving Teslas. Seventeen of these were published in 2026 alone.

The politician also reminds that Tesla itself describes Autopilot and Full Self-Driving as systems that require active driver supervision and are not autonomous driving systems. This is a significant discrepancy, as the video footage shows the exact opposite.

Krishnamoorthi also points out a message displayed in Tesla cars: “Drowsiness detected. Stay focused with FSD.” He believes such a message is poorly thought out. If the system detects drowsiness, it should restrict the use of the feature rather than encouraging continued driving with FSD. It’s a valid observation.

Tesla has previously posted on social media suggesting that driving with FSD can be less exhausting and allow drivers to stay more alert. Marketing-wise, this sounds convenient. Legally and safety-wise, it’s much worse.

NHTSA’s investigation is now in the final stage before a potential recall

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The core of the problem is quite brutal. Tesla owners have long shown how to bypass the driver monitoring system. It’s said that a $20 bill placed strategically to cover or deceive the camera, or sunglasses that interfere with eye tracking, will do. If the system can be disabled using household methods, its effectiveness must be evaluated with great caution.

For now, this letter alone is unlikely to shake things up in Washington. But with 43 videos, 9 incidents, and 1 death on NHTSA’s hands, the response by the end of September will be more than just a formality. Do you think it will stay at the written level, or will Tesla eventually face stricter action from regulators?

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