🔗 Share this article US Regulators Begin Investigation into Self-Driving Tesla Vehicles After String of Crashes American vehicle safety authorities have commenced an probe into Tesla cars featuring the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations following numerous collisions. Safety Agency Identifies Safety Regulation Violations The NHTSA declared that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had caused vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”. This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before potentially seeking a withdrawal of the cars if the agency determines they present a danger to public safety. Concerning Incident Reports The regulatory body reported it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red traffic lights and moving in the wrong direction during lane switching while operating the technology. NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, using full self-driving engaged, “came to an junction with a red light, proceeded to drive into the crossroads against the red signal and was subsequently part of a crash with other motor vehicles in the intersection”. The agency reported that four crashes had caused injuries to occupants. Further Issues Identified The NHTSA stated it has found 18 complaints and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles, operating at an junction with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stationary for the entire time of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and display the proper traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”. Some complainants also stated that FSD “did not provide alerts of the technology's intended behaviour as the car was approaching a red light”. Continuing Official Examination Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year. In late 2024, the authority began an investigation into over two million Tesla cars using FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was fatal. 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 steering wheel and is prepared to take over at any time. While these features are designed to become more capable, the currently enabled features do not make the car self-driving.” Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals possible issues with existing deployments.