🔗 Share this article American Regulators Launch Investigation into Self-Driving Tesla Vehicles Following String of Accidents US automobile safety regulators have commenced an investigation into Tesla vehicles featuring the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches following multiple accidents. Safety Agency Identifies Traffic Law Violations The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires drivers to stay alert and intervene if needed, had caused car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”. This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the first step before possibly seeking a withdrawal of the vehicles if the agency concludes they present a danger to road safety. Alarming Incident Reports The agency reported it had received reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red lights and traveling against the wrong way during lane changes while using the technology. NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, using FSD engaged, “came to an intersection with a red light, continued to drive into the crossroads despite the red signal and was subsequently part of a crash with other cars in the intersection”. The authority reported that four accidents had caused injuries to occupants. Further Issues Identified The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 complaints and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD engaged, did not stay stationary for the entire time of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the correct traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”. Several reporters also claimed that FSD “did not provide warnings of the system's planned actions as the vehicle was approaching a red light”. Continuing Official Examination 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 agency started an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars using FSD after four reported collisions in conditions 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 steering wheel and is ready to assume control at any moment. While these features are designed to improve over time, the currently enabled features do not make the vehicle 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.