American Authorities Launch Investigation into Self-Driving Tesla Vehicles Following String of Accidents

US automobile safety regulators have opened an examination into Tesla cars featuring the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations following several collisions.

Safety Agency Identifies Safety Regulation Violations

The NHTSA stated that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that violated traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before possibly requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the agency concludes they present a danger to public safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The regulatory body reported it had received reports of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and traveling in the wrong direction during lane changes while operating the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, using FSD activated, “came to an junction with a red light, proceeded to drive into the intersection despite the red signal and was later part of a collision with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

The authority noted that four crashes had caused injuries to occupants.

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 complaints and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD engaged, did not stay stopped for the duration of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and display the proper light status in the car's display”.

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

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for twelve months.

In October 2024, the agency started an inquiry into over two million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in situations of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, fog or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in last year, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for use with a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to take over at any time. While these features are designed to become more capable, the currently enabled functions do not make the car self-driving.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with current implementations.