đ Share this article US Regulators Initiate Inquiry into Autonomous Teslas After Series of Accidents US automobile safety regulators have opened an probe into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations following several accidents. Safety Agency Identifies Safety Regulation Breaches The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declared that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands drivers to stay alert and intervene if needed, had âinduced car behavior that breached traffic safety lawsâ. This early investigation by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially seeking a recall of the cars if the agency determines they present a danger to road safety. Alarming Incident Reports The agency reported it had received reports of nearly 3 million Tesla cars driving through red lights and moving in the incorrect way during lane switching while using the system. NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla car, using FSD activated, âapproached an intersection with a red traffic signal, proceeded to drive into the intersection against the red light and was subsequently part of a collision with other motor vehicles in the junctionâ. The agency reported that four crashes had resulted in one or more injuries. Further Issues Identified The NHTSA stated it has found 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD engaged, did not stay stopped for the entire time of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and display the correct traffic signal state in the vehicle interfaceâ. Several reporters also stated that FSD âfailed to give warnings of the technology's intended actions as the vehicle was approaching a red lightâ. Ongoing Official Examination The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for twelve months. In October 2024, the authority started an inquiry into over two million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four reported collisions in situations of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was fatal. Company's Stated Position Tesla's website states that FSD is âintended for use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to take over at any time. While these capabilities are engineered to become more capable, the currently enabled functions do not render the vehicle autonomous.â Self-driving car systems continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.