American Regulators Launch Inquiry into Autonomous Teslas After Series of Accidents

American vehicle safety authorities have started an probe into Tesla cars featuring the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches following several crashes.

Regulatory Body Finds Traffic Law Violations

The NHTSA stated that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands motorists to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had “induced car behavior 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 authority determines they pose a risk to road safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The regulatory body reported it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and traveling in the incorrect way during lane switching while operating the system.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, using full self-driving activated, “approached an junction with a red traffic signal, continued to travel into the intersection despite the red light and was subsequently involved in a crash with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

The agency noted that four accidents had resulted in one or more injuries.

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD active, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and display the proper traffic signal state in the car's display”.

Several reporters also claimed that FSD “did not provide alerts of the system's planned actions as the vehicle was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.

In October 2024, the authority began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four reported collisions in situations of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, fog or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in last year, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for use with a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to assume control at any time. While these capabilities are designed to become more capable, the presently active functions do not make the vehicle self-driving.”

Automated car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals possible issues with current implementations.