Netherlands Approves Tesla's Supervised Autonomous Driving System

The Hague (ANTARA) - The Netherlands has approved the autonomous driving system with supervision from the United States electric car manufacturer, Tesla, making it the first European country to allow the technology on public roads.

“This driver assistance system has been researched and tested extensively for more than one and a half years on our test tracks and on public roads,” said the Dutch Vehicle Authority (RDW) in a statement issued on Friday (10/4) evening local time, adding that proper use of the system can contribute positively to road safety.

The regulator emphasised that vehicles equipped with the full self-driving (FSD) system under supervision are not autonomous vehicles. The system is classified as a driver assistance feature, meaning the driver remains fully responsible and must maintain control at all times. “When the system detects that the driver is less alert, various signals will be activated, requiring the driver to demonstrate alertness,” said the RDW.

Although Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD have been permitted in the United States for some time, the RDW said that these systems cannot be directly compared because vehicles in Europe use a different software version with varying functions.

This approval could open the way for broader implementation across Europe. The RDW said it will submit an application to the European Commission, after which EU member states will vote on whether the system is permitted throughout the bloc.

Experts warn that the technology, while promising, could also pose new risks. Marieke Martens, professor of autonomous vehicles and human interaction at Eindhoven University of Technology, told local media RTL News that traffic safety could change due to such systems.

“Traffic safety could change. Systems like this can prevent human errors, but new errors might also emerge, which then still have to be corrected by humans. In that case, it actually adds extra tasks to driving,” she said.