🔗 Share this article American Regulators Begin Probe into Self-Driving Tesla Vehicles After String of Collisions US automobile safety regulators have opened an investigation into Tesla cars featuring the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches after several crashes. Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Violations The federal safety agency stated that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to remain attentive 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 possibly seeking a recall of the vehicles if the authority determines they pose a risk to road safety. Alarming Case Findings The regulatory body stated it had received reports of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles running red traffic lights and moving against the wrong way during lane changes while operating the system. NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with full self-driving activated, “approached an intersection with a red light, proceeded to drive into the crossroads despite the red signal and was later part of a collision with other motor vehicles in the intersection”. The authority noted that four accidents had resulted in one or more injuries. Additional 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 duration of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and display the proper light status in the vehicle interface”. Several reporters also claimed that FSD “failed to give warnings of the system's intended behaviour 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 being examined by NHTSA for a year. In October 2024, the agency began an investigation into over two million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four reported collisions in situations of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or dust clouds. One such accident, in last year, was deadly. Company's Stated Position The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for operation by a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is ready to assume control at any time. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the currently enabled features do not make the car autonomous.” Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals possible issues with existing deployments.