🔗 Share this article US Regulators Launch Investigation into Self-Driving Teslas After String of Accidents American vehicle safety authorities have commenced an examination into Tesla cars featuring the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches following multiple crashes. Regulatory Body Finds Traffic Law Violations The NHTSA stated that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires drivers to stay alert and intervene if needed, had “induced car behavior that breached road safety regulations”. This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before possibly requesting a withdrawal of the vehicles if the agency concludes they present a danger to road safety. Concerning Incident Reports The agency reported it had documented accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla cars driving through red traffic lights and moving in the incorrect direction during lane switching while operating the technology. NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla car, using full self-driving activated, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, continued to travel into the crossroads despite the red light and was later part of a crash with other cars in the junction”. The agency reported that four crashes had resulted in injuries to occupants. Further Issues Identified The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 complaints and one media report claiming that Tesla vehicles, operating at an junction with FSD active, “failed to remain stopped for the duration of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and display the correct traffic signal state in the car's display”. Some complainants also stated that FSD “failed to give warnings of the system's intended behaviour as the car was coming to a red light”. Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its Autopilot system, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year. In October 2024, the authority began an inquiry into over two million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, mist or airborne dust. One such accident, in last year, was deadly. Company's Official Stance Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for operation by a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to assume control at any moment. While these features are designed to become more capable, the currently enabled functions do not render the car autonomous.” Automated vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals possible issues with current implementations.