American Regulators Begin Inquiry into Autonomous Teslas After Series of Accidents
US automobile safety regulators have opened an probe into Tesla vehicles featuring the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches after numerous crashes.
Safety Agency Identifies Safety Regulation Breaches
The federal safety agency stated that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires drivers to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had caused vehicle behaviour that violated road safety regulations”.
This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before potentially seeking a recall of the vehicles if the agency determines they pose a risk to road safety.
Alarming Case Findings
The agency reported it had documented reports of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles driving through red lights and moving against the incorrect direction during lane changes while operating the technology.
NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with full self-driving engaged, “approached an junction with a red light, continued to drive into the crossroads against the red light and was subsequently involved in a crash with other cars in the intersection”.
The authority reported that four crashes had caused injuries to occupants.
Additional Issues Identified
The NHTSA announced it has found 18 complaints and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stationary 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”.
Some complainants also stated that FSD “did not provide warnings of the technology's planned actions as the car was approaching a red light”.
Ongoing Official Examination
The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.
In October 2024, the authority began an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or airborne dust. One such accident, in last year, was deadly.
Manufacturer's Stated Position
The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for use with a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to assume control at any time. While these capabilities are engineered to become more capable, the currently enabled features do not make the vehicle self-driving.”
Self-driving car systems continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.
