France refuses Tesla automated driving: “Several advances, but...”

Athe opposite of countries such as the Netherlands,  tesla Automated Driving (FSD) was refused in France. That is what Minister Philippe Tabarot revealed, also observing that is not an autonomous driving system, since the driver must always be ready to take over the operation and keep his attention at every moment. And there are several concerns of the French government.

First of all, Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said that the system allows excessive speed, as it can go faster if you detect vehicles walking at higher speed – even above the legal limit: “As a result, traffic laws are not being respected“, he reiterated.

It also points out that the data suggest the impossibility of ensuring the driver’s appropriate level of attention in urban areas and in complex scenarios such as band changes, roundabouts or crossings. In this regard, the ruler stressed that, even with active driving assistance, the only person responsible for any incidents or infringements is the human driver.

Thus, for the Gaul Executive, there are no security benefits that justify the authorisation: “In France, we believe that this system represents several technological advances, but that the security counterparts are still not enough to justify an authorization in its current form ", said the minister.

A no now, but a yes in the future?

If France rejects, for the moment, the automated driving of TeslaThe same will not necessarily happen forever. In the same communication, Philippe Tabarot left the door open – revealing until the French Transport Minister recently went to the Netherlands to talk about it.

It clarified that “France supports these technologies“ but defends that its use should have a trust base that allows to evaluate “the systems”, then deciding what are the necessary adjustments so that the Tesla system will meet high standards.

According to Philippe Tabarot, it is necessary to think with time to analyze everything cautiously, taking into account that this type of automated driving technology is new and designed to operate in any environment – including when there is great complexity.

At the same time, the ruler ensured that France continues to support new driving assistance technologies, allowing them to meet the defined safety requirements. And even defined as a great goal “to go from driving assistance to totally autonomous driving”.

It also noted that since 2015, over 200 independent car tests have already been done – a basis considered solid, when its objective is to have to circulate autonomous vehicles approved already next year.

The Netherlands was the first European territory to approve Tesla's automated driving system – followed by others: Belgium, Denmark, Estonia and Lithuania.