American Regulators Begin Investigation into Self-Driving Teslas Following Series of Collisions
US automobile safety regulators have commenced an probe into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations following numerous crashes.
Regulatory Body Finds Traffic Law Breaches
The federal safety agency declared that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to stay alert and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.
This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially seeking a withdrawal of the cars if the authority determines they pose a risk to road safety.
Alarming Incident Reports
The regulatory body stated it had received reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red traffic lights and traveling in the wrong way during lane switching while using the technology.
NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, using full self-driving engaged, “approached an intersection with a red light, proceeded to drive into the crossroads despite the red signal and was later involved in a collision with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.
The agency reported that four crashes had caused injuries to occupants.
Additional Safety Concerns
The NHTSA stated it has found 18 reports 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 did not properly recognize and display the proper traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.
Several reporters also claimed that FSD “did not provide alerts of the system's planned actions as the car was coming to a red traffic signal”.
Ongoing Official Examination
The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been being examined by NHTSA for twelve months.
In late 2024, the agency began an inquiry into over two million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four reported collisions in situations of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or dust clouds. One such accident, in 2023, was deadly.
Company's Stated Position
Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to assume control at any time. While these features are designed to become more capable, the presently active functions do not make the vehicle autonomous.”
Self-driving car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals possible issues with existing deployments.
