US Regulators Initiate Investigation into Autonomous Tesla Vehicles After String of Collisions

US automobile safety regulators have opened an examination into Tesla vehicles featuring the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches after multiple crashes.

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

The federal safety agency stated that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires drivers to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that violated traffic safety laws”.

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

Alarming Incident Reports

The agency reported it had received accounts of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red lights and moving against the incorrect direction during lane switching while using the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla car, using FSD engaged, “came to an intersection with a red light, continued to travel into the crossroads despite the red signal and was later part of a collision with other cars in the intersection”.

The agency reported that four crashes had resulted in one or more injuries.

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 reports and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles, driving through an junction with FSD engaged, did not stay stationary for the duration of a red light, failed to stop fully, 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 system's planned behaviour as the vehicle was approaching a red light”.

Ongoing Official Examination

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

In October 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 fatal.

Company's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for use with a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment. While these capabilities are designed to become more capable, the presently active functions do not make the car self-driving.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals possible issues with existing deployments.