🔗 Share this article American Authorities Initiate Probe into Autonomous Teslas After String of Crashes American vehicle safety authorities have started an examination into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations after several crashes. Regulatory Body Finds Safety Regulation Breaches The NHTSA declared that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands drivers to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had caused car behavior that breached traffic safety laws”. This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA marks the first step before potentially seeking a recall of the cars if the authority determines they pose a risk to public safety. Concerning Incident Reports The agency reported it had received reports of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles driving through red lights and traveling in the incorrect direction during lane switching while operating the technology. NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla car, operating with full self-driving engaged, “approached an junction with a red light, continued to travel into the intersection despite the red signal and was subsequently part of a crash with other motor vehicles in the junction”. The authority reported that four crashes had caused one or more injuries. Further Issues Identified The NHTSA stated it has found 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla vehicles, driving through an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stopped for the duration of a red light, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize 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 behaviour as the car was approaching a red light”. Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for twelve months. In October 2024, the authority began an inquiry into over two million Tesla cars using FSD after four documented crashes in situations of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, mist or dust clouds. One such accident, in 2023, was deadly. Manufacturer's Official Stance The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for operation by a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to assume control at any moment. While these features are designed to improve over time, the currently enabled features do not render the car self-driving.” Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals possible issues with current implementations.