US Authorities Launch Investigation into Self-Driving Teslas Following String of Accidents

US automobile safety regulators have commenced an probe into Tesla vehicles equipped with the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches following several accidents.

Regulatory Body Identifies Safety Regulation Breaches

The federal safety agency declared that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to stay alert and intervene if needed, had “induced car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before potentially seeking a recall of the vehicles if the agency concludes they pose a risk to road safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The regulatory body stated it had documented accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles driving through red lights and traveling against the incorrect direction during lane switching while operating the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla car, using FSD engaged, “approached an junction with a red traffic signal, continued to drive into the intersection despite the red light and was subsequently part of a crash with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

The authority noted that four crashes had caused injuries to occupants.

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stopped for the duration of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and show the proper light status in the vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “failed to give warnings of the technology's intended actions as the vehicle was coming to a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.

In October 2024, the authority began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars using FSD after four documented crashes in situations of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in last year, was deadly.

Company's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for use with a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the currently enabled features do not make the car self-driving.”

Automated car systems continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.