US Regulators Initiate Inquiry into Self-Driving Tesla Vehicles Following String of Accidents

American vehicle safety authorities have commenced an investigation into Tesla vehicles featuring the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches following numerous accidents.

Safety Agency Identifies Safety Regulation Breaches

The federal safety agency stated that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that breached traffic safety laws”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before possibly seeking a recall of the vehicles if the agency concludes they present a danger to public safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The regulatory body stated it had documented reports of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles driving through red lights and moving against the wrong way during lane changes while using the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with full self-driving engaged, “came to an junction with a red traffic signal, continued to drive into the intersection against the red light and was subsequently part of a crash with other cars in the intersection”.

The agency reported that four crashes had resulted in injuries to occupants.

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 reports and one media report alleging that Tesla cars, operating at an junction with FSD active, “failed to remain stopped for the duration of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and show the correct traffic signal state in the car's display”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “failed to give warnings of the technology's intended actions as the car was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Ongoing 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 started an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was deadly.

Company's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for operation by a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to take over at any time. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the presently active features do not render the vehicle autonomous.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with current implementations.