American Regulators Initiate Probe into Autonomous Teslas After Series of Accidents
US automobile safety regulators have started an examination into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches after several accidents.
Safety Agency Identifies Safety Regulation Breaches
The federal safety agency stated that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires drivers to stay alert and intervene if needed, had “induced car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”.
This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before potentially seeking a recall of the vehicles if the authority concludes they pose a risk to road safety.
Concerning Case Findings
The agency reported it had received reports of nearly 3 million Tesla cars running red traffic lights and traveling against the wrong way during lane switching while operating the system.
NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD activated, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, continued to drive into the intersection against the red light and was later part of a collision with other cars in the intersection”.
The agency reported that four accidents had caused injuries to occupants.
Further Issues Identified
The NHTSA announced it has found 18 reports and one news account alleging that Tesla vehicles, operating at an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and show the correct light status in the car's display”.
Some complainants also claimed that FSD “did not provide alerts of the system's planned actions as the vehicle was coming to a red light”.
Ongoing Official Examination
Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been being examined by NHTSA for twelve months.
In October 2024, the authority began an investigation into over two million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, mist or airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was fatal.
Company's Official Stance
Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for use with a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to assume control at any moment. While these capabilities are designed to improve over time, the currently enabled functions do not make the vehicle self-driving.”
Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.
