Overview
- Tesla confirmed that safety monitors now sit in the driver’s seat on Austin trips that include highway segments as the service expands beyond city streets.
- The shift follows SB 2807 taking effect on Sept. 1, introducing a statewide permit system and requiring emergency‑response plans for driverless operations.
- Elon Musk said safety drivers are intended only for the early months and stated there should be no safety driver by the end of the year.
- Tesla’s system remains classified as Level 2 and requires constant human supervision, unlike Level 4 services that can operate without an onboard driver in defined domains.
- Public scrutiny persists after early rider complaints and a heavy recall record, with a recent survey finding nearly half of respondents say Tesla’s Full Self-Driving should be illegal.