đ Share this article American Regulators Initiate Investigation into Self-Driving Teslas Following Series of Accidents US automobile safety regulators have commenced an probe into Tesla cars equipped with the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations following numerous accidents. Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Breaches The NHTSA announced that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that breached road safety regulationsâ. This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the first step before possibly seeking a withdrawal of the vehicles if the authority concludes they present a danger to road safety. Alarming Incident Reports The agency reported it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red lights and traveling in the wrong way during lane changes while using the system. NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with FSD activated, âapproached an junction with a red traffic signal, proceeded to travel into the crossroads despite the red light and was later part of a crash with other motor vehicles in the junctionâ. The agency reported that four accidents had resulted in one or more injuries. Additional Safety Concerns The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 reports and one news account alleging that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD engaged, âfailed to remain stationary for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the correct light status in the vehicle interfaceâ. Some complainants also claimed that FSD âfailed to give warnings of the technology's intended actions as the car was approaching a red traffic signalâ. Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for twelve months. In October 2024, the authority started an investigation into over two million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in last year, was deadly. Manufacturer's Official Stance The company's official position indicates that FSD is âintended for use with a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to assume control at any time. While these features are designed to become more capable, the currently enabled features do not make the car self-driving.â Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals possible issues with existing deployments.