US Regulators Initiate Inquiry into Autonomous Teslas After Series of Crashes
American vehicle safety authorities have commenced an investigation into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations following several accidents.
Safety Agency Finds Traffic Law Violations
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that breached traffic safety laws”.
This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA marks the first step before potentially requesting a recall of the cars if the agency concludes they present a danger to road safety.
Concerning Incident Reports
The regulatory body stated it had documented reports of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles running red lights and traveling against the incorrect way during lane changes while operating the system.
NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with FSD activated, “came to an junction with a red light, continued to drive into the crossroads despite the red light and was later part of a collision with other motor vehicles in the junction”.
The agency 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 vehicles, operating at an junction with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stopped for the entire time of a red light, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and show the proper traffic signal state in the car's display”.
Some complainants also stated that FSD “failed to give alerts of the technology's planned actions as the car was approaching a red traffic signal”.
Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny
The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year.
In October 2024, the agency started an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla cars using FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, mist or airborne dust. 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 fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is ready to take over at any moment. While these features are designed to improve over time, the presently active features do not make the car autonomous.”
Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with current implementations.
