US Authorities Initiate Inquiry into Autonomous Teslas Following Series of Collisions
US automobile safety regulators have opened an investigation into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches following numerous crashes.
Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Breaches
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declared that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that breached road safety regulations”.
This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before possibly requesting a withdrawal of the vehicles if the agency concludes they present a danger to public safety.
Alarming Case Findings
The regulatory body stated it had received accounts of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red lights and moving in the wrong direction during lane switching while operating the technology.
NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla car, using FSD activated, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, proceeded to drive into the crossroads despite the red light and was later part of a crash with other motor vehicles in the junction”.
The authority noted that four accidents had resulted in injuries to occupants.
Additional Issues Identified
The NHTSA announced it has found 18 reports and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD active, did not stay stopped for the duration of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and display the correct traffic signal state in the car's display”.
Several reporters also claimed that FSD “did not provide alerts of the technology's intended actions as the car was coming to a red traffic signal”.
Ongoing Official Examination
Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.
In late 2024, the agency began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in situations of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was deadly.
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 steering wheel and is prepared to take over at any time. While these capabilities are designed to become more capable, the presently active features do not make the vehicle autonomous.”
Self-driving car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals possible issues with existing deployments.
