🔗 Share this article American Regulators Initiate Probe into Autonomous Teslas Following String of Crashes US automobile safety regulators have commenced an examination into Tesla cars equipped with the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches following several crashes. Safety Agency Finds Traffic Law Breaches The federal safety agency announced that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands motorists to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that violated road safety regulations”. This initial assessment 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. Alarming Incident Reports The regulatory body reported it had received reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red traffic lights and moving against the incorrect way during lane changes while using the technology. NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with full self-driving engaged, “approached an junction with a red light, continued to drive into the crossroads against the red light and was subsequently part of a crash with other cars in the junction”. The agency reported that four accidents had resulted in injuries to occupants. Additional Safety Concerns The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 reports and one media report claiming that Tesla vehicles, operating at an intersection with FSD engaged, did not stay stationary for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and show the proper light status in the car's display”. Some complainants also claimed that FSD “failed to give warnings of the system's intended behaviour as the car was coming to a red light”. Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, 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 reported collisions in conditions of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, mist or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in last year, was fatal. Manufacturer's Official Stance The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for use with 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 improve over time, the presently active functions do not make the vehicle self-driving.” Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals possible issues with current implementations.