US Regulators Begin Inquiry into Self-Driving Tesla Vehicles After String of Crashes

American vehicle safety authorities have opened an examination into Tesla vehicles featuring the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches after numerous accidents.

Regulatory Body Finds Traffic Law Violations

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands drivers to stay alert and intervene if needed, had “induced vehicle behaviour that violated traffic safety laws”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the agency concludes they present a danger to road safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The agency reported it had received accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles running red traffic lights and traveling against the incorrect direction during lane switching while operating the system.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, using FSD activated, “came to an junction with a red traffic signal, continued to travel into the intersection against the red signal and was later part of a crash with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

The agency reported that four crashes had resulted in injuries to occupants.

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 complaints and one news account claiming that Tesla vehicles, operating at an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and display the proper light status in the car's display”.

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

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year.

In October 2024, the agency began an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla cars using FSD after four documented crashes in situations of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in 2023, was fatal.

Manufacturer'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 steering wheel and is prepared to assume control at any moment. While these features are designed to become more capable, the currently enabled features do not render the car autonomous.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with current implementations.