đ Share this article American Authorities Begin Inquiry into Self-Driving Tesla Vehicles Following Series of Accidents US automobile safety regulators have commenced an probe into Tesla cars featuring the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches after multiple collisions. Regulatory Body Finds Traffic Law Breaches The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands drivers to stay alert and intervene if needed, had âinduced vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety lawsâ. This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the first step before potentially seeking a withdrawal of the cars if the agency concludes they present a danger to road safety. Concerning Incident Reports The regulatory body stated it had received reports of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles running red traffic lights and moving in the wrong direction during lane switching while operating the system. NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD engaged, âapproached an junction with a red light, proceeded to drive into the crossroads despite the red light and was later involved in a crash with other motor vehicles in the intersectionâ. The authority noted that four accidents had caused injuries to occupants. Additional Issues Identified The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla vehicles, operating at an intersection with FSD active, did not stay stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and display the correct traffic signal state in the car's displayâ. Some complainants also claimed that FSD âdid not provide alerts of the system's planned actions as the vehicle was coming to a red traffic signalâ. 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 began an investigation into over two million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in last year, was deadly. Company's Official Stance Tesla's website states that FSD is âdesigned for operation by a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to assume control at any time. While these capabilities are designed to become more capable, the presently active features do not render the vehicle autonomous.â Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals possible issues with existing deployments.