đ Share this article American Regulators Begin Probe into Autonomous Tesla Vehicles Following String of Accidents US automobile safety regulators have opened an probe into Tesla vehicles featuring the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations following several collisions. Safety Agency Identifies Traffic Law Breaches The NHTSA declared that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had âinduced car behavior that violated road safety regulationsâ. This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially seeking a recall of the vehicles if the authority determines they present a danger to road safety. Alarming Incident Reports The agency reported it had documented reports of nearly 3 million Tesla cars driving through red traffic lights and moving in the incorrect direction during lane switching while using the system. NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD activated, âcame to an intersection with a red light, continued to drive into the crossroads against the red signal and was subsequently involved in a collision with other motor vehicles in the intersectionâ. The authority noted that four accidents had resulted in one or more injuries. Additional Safety Concerns The NHTSA stated it has found 18 complaints and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD engaged, âfailed to remain stopped for the entire time of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and display the proper traffic signal state in the vehicle interfaceâ. Several reporters also stated that FSD âdid not provide warnings of the technology's planned behaviour as the vehicle was coming to a red lightâ. Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its Autopilot system, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year. In October 2024, the agency started an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as sun glare, fog or dust clouds. One such accident, in last year, was fatal. Manufacturer's Stated Position Tesla's website states that FSD is âintended for operation by a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to assume control at any time. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the presently active features do not make the car self-driving.â Self-driving car systems continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals possible issues with existing deployments.