🔗 Share this article US Authorities Begin Inquiry into Autonomous Tesla Vehicles After String of Accidents US automobile safety regulators have commenced an probe into Tesla vehicles equipped with the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches following numerous accidents. Regulatory Body Identifies Traffic Law Violations The federal safety agency declared that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands motorists to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had “induced vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”. This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before potentially requesting a recall of the cars if the authority concludes they pose a risk to road safety. Alarming Incident Reports The agency reported it had received reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and moving against the incorrect direction during lane changes while operating the system. NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD activated, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, continued to drive into the intersection against the red light and was subsequently part of a crash with other motor vehicles in the intersection”. The authority noted that four accidents had resulted in one or more injuries. Further Safety Concerns The NHTSA stated it has found 18 complaints and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an intersection with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red light, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and show the proper traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”. Several reporters also claimed that FSD “failed to give warnings of the system's intended behaviour as the vehicle was approaching a red traffic signal”. Continuing Official Examination Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year. In late 2024, the agency started an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in last year, was deadly. Company's Official Stance Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for use with a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to assume control at any time. While these capabilities are engineered to improve over time, the presently active features do not make the car autonomous.” Automated car systems continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with current implementations.