US Regulators Begin Investigation into Self-Driving Tesla Vehicles After Series of Crashes
American vehicle safety authorities have started an investigation into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations after several collisions.
Safety Agency Identifies Safety Regulation Breaches
The federal safety agency declared that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had “induced car behavior that violated road safety regulations”.
This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the authority concludes they present a danger to road safety.
Alarming Incident Reports
The regulatory body reported it had received accounts of 2.88 million Tesla cars driving through red traffic lights and traveling against the incorrect direction during lane changes while operating the system.
NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, using full self-driving activated, “approached an intersection with a red traffic signal, continued to drive into the crossroads against the red light and was subsequently part of a crash with other cars in the intersection”.
The authority noted that four accidents had resulted in injuries to occupants.
Additional Safety Concerns
The NHTSA announced it has found 18 reports and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles, operating at an junction with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stopped for the duration of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and show the correct light status in the car's display”.
Several reporters also stated that FSD “failed to give alerts of the technology's planned behaviour as the vehicle was approaching a red traffic signal”.
Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny
The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.
In October 2024, the authority began an inquiry into over two million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as sun glare, fog or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in 2023, was fatal.
Company's Official Stance
The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for use with a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is ready to assume control at any moment. While these capabilities are engineered to improve over time, the currently enabled features do not make the car self-driving.”
Automated vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with current implementations.