US Authorities Initiate Investigation into Autonomous Teslas After Series of Accidents

American vehicle safety authorities have opened an probe into Tesla cars equipped with the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches after numerous accidents.

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Violations

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that violated road safety regulations”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before possibly seeking a recall of the vehicles if the agency concludes they present a danger to public safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The regulatory body reported it had received accounts of 2.88 million Tesla cars running red traffic lights and traveling in the wrong way during lane switching while using the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with full self-driving activated, “approached an junction with a red light, proceeded to travel into the intersection against the red signal and was later part of a crash with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

The agency reported that four accidents had caused one or more injuries.

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 reports and one media report alleging that Tesla cars, driving through an intersection with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stopped for the entire time of a red light, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and show the correct traffic signal state in the car's display”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “did not provide warnings of the system's planned actions as the vehicle was coming to a red light”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for twelve months.

In October 2024, the agency began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, fog or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in 2023, was fatal.

Company's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for operation by a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to assume control at any time. While these capabilities are engineered to improve over time, the currently enabled features do not make the car self-driving.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.