US Regulators Begin Inquiry into Self-Driving Teslas Following Series of Accidents
US automobile safety regulators have commenced an investigation into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches after numerous collisions.
Regulatory Body Finds Safety Regulation Breaches
The NHTSA stated that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had caused car behavior that breached road safety regulations”.
This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the first step before possibly requesting a recall of the cars if the authority concludes they present a danger to road safety.
Concerning Incident Reports
The regulatory body reported it had received reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red traffic lights and moving against the wrong way during lane changes while using the technology.
NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with full self-driving engaged, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, continued to travel into the intersection against the red signal and was later part of a collision with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.
The agency noted that four crashes had caused one or more injuries.
Further Issues Identified
The NHTSA announced it has found 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an junction with FSD active, “failed to remain stopped for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and display the correct light status in the car's display”.
Several reporters also stated that FSD “did not provide warnings of the technology's intended behaviour as the vehicle was approaching a red light”.
Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny
Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year.
In late 2024, the authority began an investigation into over two million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in situations of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, fog or airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was fatal.
Company's Official Stance
Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for operation by a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any time. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the presently active functions do not make the car self-driving.”
Automated vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.
