American Regulators Begin Investigation into Autonomous Tesla Vehicles Following String of Accidents

American vehicle safety authorities have started an investigation into Tesla vehicles featuring the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches after multiple collisions.

Safety Agency Identifies Safety Regulation Violations

The NHTSA declared that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that breached road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before possibly requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the agency concludes they pose a risk to road safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The agency reported it had documented reports of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles running red traffic lights and traveling against the incorrect direction during lane changes while operating the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with full self-driving activated, “approached an intersection with a red traffic signal, proceeded to travel into the crossroads despite the red light and was subsequently part of a collision with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

The agency noted that four crashes had caused one or more injuries.

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 complaints and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an junction with FSD engaged, did not stay stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and show the correct light status in the car's display”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “failed to give warnings of the system's planned actions as the car was approaching a red light”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for twelve months.

In October 2024, the authority began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as sun glare, fog or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in last year, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for use with a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to take over at any time. While these capabilities are designed to improve over time, the currently enabled functions do not render the car autonomous.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with current implementations.