American Regulators Begin Probe into Self-Driving Teslas After String of Crashes

US automobile safety regulators have started an investigation into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches following several accidents.

Safety Agency Identifies Safety Regulation Breaches

The federal safety agency stated that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the first step before possibly seeking a withdrawal of the cars if the authority determines they present a danger to road safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The agency reported it had received accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles driving through red lights and traveling in the incorrect direction during lane switching while using the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with FSD engaged, “came to an junction with a red traffic signal, continued to drive into the crossroads despite the red signal and was subsequently part of a crash with other cars in the junction”.

The authority reported that four crashes had resulted in one or more injuries.

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla vehicles, driving through an intersection with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the correct traffic signal state in the car's display”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “did not provide warnings of the system's intended behaviour as the vehicle was approaching a red light”.

Ongoing Official Examination

Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been under investigation by NHTSA for twelve months.

In late 2024, the agency started an investigation into over two million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four reported collisions in situations of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One such accident, in last year, was deadly.

Company's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for operation by a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to take over at any time. While these capabilities are designed to improve over time, the presently active functions do not make the vehicle self-driving.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with current implementations.