🔗 Share this article

US automobile safety regulators have opened an investigation into Tesla vehicles featuring the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches following multiple accidents.

Safety Agency Identifies Safety Regulation Breaches

The NHTSA declared that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands drivers to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that breached road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the agency determines they present a danger to public safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The agency stated it had received accounts of 2.88 million Tesla cars driving through red lights and moving in the wrong direction during lane changes while using the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, using FSD activated, “approached an junction 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 junction”.

The agency reported that four crashes had caused injuries to occupants.

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 complaints and one news account claiming that Tesla vehicles, operating at an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stopped for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and show the proper traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

Several reporters also claimed that FSD “failed to give warnings of the technology's intended behaviour as the car was coming to a red light”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.

In late 2024, the authority began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars using FSD after four documented crashes in situations of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or dust clouds. One such accident, in 2023, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for operation by a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to take over at any time. While these capabilities are engineered to become more capable, the presently active functions do not make the car self-driving.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with current implementations.