🔗 Share this article US Regulators Initiate Probe into Self-Driving Teslas After Series of Collisions US automobile safety regulators have opened an examination into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches following numerous crashes. Safety Agency Identifies Traffic Law Violations The NHTSA declared that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires motorists to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had caused car behavior that violated road safety regulations”. This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA marks the first step before potentially seeking a recall of the cars if the authority determines they pose a risk to road safety. Concerning Incident Reports The agency stated it had documented accounts of 2.88 million Tesla cars driving through red lights and moving against the incorrect direction during lane switching while using the system. NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with full self-driving engaged, “came to an intersection with a red light, continued to drive into the intersection despite the red signal and was subsequently part of a crash with other motor vehicles in the intersection”. The agency reported that four accidents had resulted in injuries to occupants. Additional Issues Identified The NHTSA announced it has found 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD engaged, did not stay stopped for the duration of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the proper light status in the vehicle interface”. Several reporters also claimed that FSD “did not provide alerts of the system's planned behaviour as the car was coming to a red light”. Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year. In October 2024, the agency started an investigation into over two million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in 2023, was deadly. Manufacturer's Stated Position Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for operation by a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is ready to assume control at any time. While these capabilities are engineered to become more capable, the currently enabled features do not make the car autonomous.” Automated vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals possible issues with existing deployments.