The Austin, Texas, fire department has raised concerns about Tesla’s new Cybercab, an autonomous vehicle designed without traditional driver controls like a steering wheel or pedals. These features, which are standard in most cars, could make it difficult for first responders to operate the vehicle during emergencies. In a statement to NBC News, Fire Capt. Matthew McElearney explained that the Cybercab’s touchscreen interface, used for movement, may not function reliably under challenging conditions such as gloved hands, sweat, dust, cracked screens, or low battery. While Tesla has provided some training for first responders, McElearney emphasized that the technology is still unproven and may require additional training or careful handling to be used effectively. The absence of driver controls has also drawn attention from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is investigating whether the Cybercab meets federal safety standards. Tesla has outlined a plan for first responders, allowing them to request assistance from the company or manually move the vehicle using onboard controls. In some cases, the vehicle may need to be pushed, as shown in a video shared by a Cybercab customer. Similar concerns have been raised about Zoox, a self-driving car company owned by Amazon, which is also testing a vehicle without a steering wheel in Austin. According to Zoox’s plan, its robotaxi might need to be towed if it cannot be moved using its own power. The lack of a steering wheel could also create challenges for tow-truck operators trying to load Cybercabs. Tesla’s plan indicates that operators might need to manually turn the front tires to position the vehicle properly. McElearney also criticized Waymo, Tesla’s main competitor in autonomous vehicles, for not adequately addressing the needs of first responders. He pointed out that Waymo vehicles have been seen passing stopped school buses and driving into flooded streets. Additionally, McElearney noted that Waymo has not implemented geofence blockades to prevent vehicles from entering active emergency scenes and has not shared enough information about these geofences. A Waymo spokesperson said the company takes feedback seriously and continues to collaborate with local public safety partners. McElearney called for the development of national standards to guide how autonomous vehicles interact with emergency workers. He suggested that a group of experts should evaluate alternatives to traditional driver controls, such as touchscreens. Meanwhile, the U.S. Transportation Department is updating Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to better accommodate autonomous vehicles. Some versions of Tesla’s Cybercab in San Francisco have been reported to include steering wheels, according to photos shared by local media and social media users. Tesla’s first responder guide mentions that a Cybercab equipped with a steering wheel, brake pedal, and acceleration pedal is typically an engineering or test vehicle.