The coast-to-coast autonomous drive has broader implications for the future of transportationX/DavidMoss
A recent coast-to-coast road trip by a Tesla owner has drawn widespread attention and renewed debate about how close the world is to truly autonomous driving.
David Moss reported completing a journey across the United States using Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software without manually taking control of the vehicle at any point.
2,700 miles from the West Coast to the East Coast
Covering roughly 2,700 miles from the West Coast to the East Coast, the trip took just under three days and included highways, urban streets, complex interchanges, and multiple charging stops. According to the owner, the vehicle managed navigation, lane changes, traffic signals, and merging largely on its own, relying on one of Tesla’s latest FSD software versions.
The journey was widely shared online through posts and videos, quickly gaining traction among Tesla enthusiasts and technology watchers. Many saw the drive as a symbolic milestone, suggesting that advanced driver-assistance systems are becoming capable of handling long-distance, real-world travel with minimal human input. The attention grew further after Tesla CEO Elon Musk briefly acknowledged the accomplishment on social media, which amplified discussion around the event and Tesla’s broader ambitions in artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles.
Coast to coast, fully autonomous drive
“I am proud to announce that I have completed the world’s first USA coast-to-coast fully autonomous drive,” said David Moss.
“I left the Tesla Diner in Los Angeles 2 days & 20 hours ago, and now have ended in Myrtle Beach, SC (2,732.4 miles). This was accomplished with Tesla FSD V14.2 with absolutely zero disengagements of any kind, even for all parking, including at Tesla Superchargers.”
The system handled challenging scenarios
From a technical perspective, the drive highlights how far Tesla’s software has progressed compared with earlier iterations of Autopilot and FSD.
The system reportedly handled not only high-speed highway driving but also more challenging scenarios such as city traffic, construction zones, and navigating to and from Supercharger stations.
Classified as a supervised driver-assistance technology
However, the achievement also comes with important caveats. Despite the term “Full Self-Driving,” Tesla’s system is still officially classified as a supervised driver-assistance technology. This means the driver is expected to remain alert and ready to take control at any moment, and the vehicle is not legally recognized as autonomous under current U.S. regulations.
Safety experts and regulators have emphasized that such systems should not be confused with Level 4 or Level 5 autonomy, where a vehicle can operate independently without human oversight in defined conditions or at all times, reported the New York Post
Another point of discussion is verification. The reported zero-intervention drive is largely based on the owner’s statements and shared data, and neither regulators nor third-party testing organizations have independently confirmed it. While this does not necessarily undermine the claim, it does mean the trip should be viewed as an individual demonstration rather than definitive proof that the technology is ready for unsupervised public use. Critics also note that exceptional trips do not automatically reflect average performance across all drivers, regions, and conditions.
A coast-to-coast drive has broader implications
Even with these limitations, the coast-to-coast drive has broader implications for the future of transportation. It suggests that software-driven improvements can significantly expand what modern vehicles are capable of, potentially reducing driver fatigue and making long journeys safer and more efficient if used responsibly. The event also intensifies conversations about regulation, liability, and public understanding of automated driving systems, especially as the technology continues to improve faster than the legal frameworks governing it.
In the end, the journey stands as a notable moment in the evolving story of autonomous driving rather than a final destination. It reflects both impressive progress and the remaining gap between advanced driver assistance and true autonomy. As Tesla and other companies continue refining their systems, such real-world demonstrations are likely to play an important role in shaping public perception, regulatory decisions, and expectations about what self-driving cars can realistically achieve in the near future.
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