Tesla's Robotaxis Blow Through School Zones, NHTSA Petition Alleges

Federal safety regulators are reviewing claims that Tesla's robotaxis speed through active school zones. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began inspecting a defect petition on Friday after receiving a request for review in late September. From here, the agency will review the petitioner's claims and decide whether to open a formal investigation.The petition alleges that roughly 1,000 Model Y Robotaxis and Cybercabs exceed posted speed limits in active school zones. The petition reportedly includes three video links as evidence and is tied to four incidents: one complaint filed with the agency and three social media reports. The filing doesn't mention any crashes, injuries, or deaths related to the reported incidents.On its own, an NHTSA petition review doesn't confirm that Tesla's robotaxis broke the law or that its driving systems are defective. Anyone can submit an NHTSA petition; the agency must then review the allegations within 120 days and decide whether a probe is warranted. The results of its formal investigation (if any) determine whether a vehicle manufacturer faces a recall or other consequences. In 2024, the NHTSA examined Tesla's Full Self-Driving system after reports of traffic violations. More recently, it began reviewing technical data used to certify the Cybercab, which lacks a steering wheel and pedals.Waymo robotaxis have also faced formal inquiries after illegally passing stopped school buses and striking a 9-year-old outside an elementary school in California.