🔗 Share this article American Authorities Begin Probe into Self-Driving Tesla Vehicles Following String of Crashes US automobile safety regulators have commenced an investigation into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations following numerous accidents. Regulatory Body Identifies Traffic Law Violations The federal safety agency stated that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands motorists to stay alert and intervene if needed, had caused car behavior that violated road safety regulations”. This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the first step before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the authority concludes they pose a risk to road safety. Alarming Case Findings The agency reported it had documented reports of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles running red traffic lights and moving in the wrong way during lane switching while operating the system. NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla car, using FSD activated, “approached an intersection with a red light, continued to travel into the intersection despite the red signal and was later part of a collision with other cars in the intersection”. The agency noted that four accidents had resulted in one or more injuries. Additional Safety Concerns The NHTSA announced it has found 18 reports and one news account alleging that Tesla vehicles, driving through an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and show the correct traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”. Some complainants also claimed that FSD “failed to give alerts of the technology's intended behaviour as the car was coming to a red traffic signal”. Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been under investigation by NHTSA for twelve months. In October 2024, the authority started an inquiry into over two million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in 2023, was deadly. Manufacturer's Official Stance The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for operation by a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to take over at any moment. While these capabilities are engineered to become more capable, the presently active features do not render the vehicle self-driving.” Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals possible issues with existing deployments.