US Regulators Begin Probe into Self-Driving Teslas Following String of Accidents

US automobile safety regulators have started an examination into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations after several collisions.

Regulatory Body Identifies Traffic Law Breaches

The NHTSA declared that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires 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 withdrawal of the vehicles if the authority concludes they pose a risk to road safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The agency stated it had received accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla cars driving through red traffic lights and moving in the wrong direction during lane changes while operating the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, using FSD activated, “approached an intersection with a red light, continued to drive into the intersection against the red light and was subsequently part of a collision with other cars in the junction”.

The authority reported that four crashes had resulted in one or more injuries.

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 complaints and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles, driving through an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stopped for the duration of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and display the correct light status in the vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “did not provide warnings of the technology's intended actions as the car was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

In October 2024, the authority started an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in last year, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for operation by a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is ready to take over at any time. While these features are engineered to become more capable, the currently enabled functions do not make the car self-driving.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals possible issues with current implementations.