🔗 Share this article US Regulators Begin Inquiry into Self-Driving Teslas After String of Crashes US automobile safety regulators have opened an probe into Tesla cars equipped with the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations after numerous accidents. Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Breaches The NHTSA declared that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands motorists to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had “induced car behavior that breached traffic safety laws”. This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA marks the first step before potentially seeking a withdrawal of the cars if the agency determines they present a danger to public safety. Concerning Incident Reports The regulatory body reported it had documented accounts of 2.88 million Tesla cars driving through red lights and traveling against the incorrect way during lane switching while operating the technology. NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD engaged, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, continued to drive into the crossroads despite the red light and was later part of a crash with other motor vehicles in the intersection”. The agency noted that four crashes had resulted in injuries to occupants. Further Safety Concerns The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 complaints and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an intersection with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stopped for the duration of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the correct light status in the car's display”. Some complainants also stated that FSD “failed to give alerts of the technology's planned actions as the car was coming to a red light”. Continuing Official Examination The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year. In October 2024, the authority started an investigation into over two million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in situations of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was deadly. Manufacturer's Official Stance Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for operation by a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any time. While these features are engineered to become more capable, the currently enabled features do not render the car self-driving.” Self-driving car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals possible issues with current implementations.