🔗 Share this article American Regulators Initiate Investigation into Autonomous Teslas After Series of Accidents US automobile safety regulators have opened an examination into Tesla vehicles featuring the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches after several collisions. Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Violations The federal safety agency stated that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that violated traffic safety laws”. This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before potentially seeking a recall of the vehicles if the agency determines they present a danger to road safety. Alarming Incident Reports The regulatory body reported it had received reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red lights and traveling in the incorrect direction during lane changes while using the system. NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, using full self-driving activated, “approached an junction with a red traffic signal, continued to travel into the crossroads despite the red light and was subsequently involved in a crash with other cars in the junction”. The authority reported that four crashes had caused injuries to occupants. Further Issues Identified The NHTSA stated it has found 18 complaints and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stopped for the entire time of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the proper light status in the vehicle interface”. Several reporters also claimed that FSD “failed to give warnings of the technology's planned actions as the vehicle was coming to a red light”. Ongoing Official Examination Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for twelve months. In October 2024, the authority began an inquiry into over two million Tesla cars using FSD after four reported collisions in situations of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in last year, was fatal. Company's Official Stance Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for use with a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is ready to take over at any time. While these features are designed to improve over time, the currently enabled functions do not render the car self-driving.” Automated car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals possible issues with existing deployments.