US automobile safety regulators have started an examination into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches following multiple collisions.
Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Breaches
The NHTSA stated that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to stay alert and intervene if needed, had “induced car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”.
This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the first step before potentially seeking a withdrawal of the vehicles if the authority determines they present a danger to public safety.
Alarming Case Findings
The regulatory body stated it had documented accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and traveling in the wrong way during lane changes while operating the system.
NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with FSD engaged, “approached an junction with a red light, continued to travel into the intersection against the red signal and was subsequently part of a collision with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.
The authority noted that four accidents had resulted in injuries to occupants.
Further Safety Concerns
The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 complaints and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an junction with FSD active, did not stay stationary for the entire time of a red light, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and display the proper light status in the car's display”.
Several reporters also claimed that FSD “failed to give alerts of the system's planned actions as the vehicle was approaching a red light”.
Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny
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 agency started an inquiry into over two million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in situations of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or dust clouds. One such accident, in last year, was fatal.
Company's Official Stance
The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for operation by a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any time. While these capabilities are engineered to improve over time, the currently enabled features do not render the vehicle self-driving.”
Automated car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals possible issues with existing deployments.
