US Authorities Launch Inquiry into Self-Driving Teslas Following Series of Collisions
US automobile safety regulators have started an investigation into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations after several accidents.
Regulatory Body Identifies Traffic Law Violations
The NHTSA declared that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands motorists to stay alert and intervene if needed, had “induced car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”.
This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially requesting a recall of the cars if the agency determines they present a danger to road safety.
Concerning Incident Reports
The agency stated it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla cars driving through red traffic lights and moving against the incorrect way during lane changes while using the system.
NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, using FSD activated, “came to an junction with a red light, continued to travel into the intersection despite the red signal and was later involved in a crash with other cars in the junction”.
The agency noted that four crashes had caused injuries to occupants.
Further Issues Identified
The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 reports and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles, driving through an intersection with FSD active, did not stay stationary for the entire time of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and show the correct traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.
Some complainants also claimed that FSD “failed to give alerts of the system's intended actions as the car was coming to a red traffic signal”.
Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny
Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for twelve months.
In October 2024, the agency began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in situations of poor visibility, such as sun glare, fog or dust clouds. One such accident, in 2023, was deadly.
Company's Official Stance
The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for use with a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to assume control at any moment. While these capabilities are designed to improve over time, the presently active features do not make the vehicle self-driving.”
Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals possible issues with existing deployments.
