đ Share this article American Authorities Launch Probe into Self-Driving Teslas After Series of Accidents US automobile safety regulators have opened an examination into Tesla vehicles equipped with the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches following multiple crashes. Safety Agency Identifies Traffic Law Breaches The NHTSA announced that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands drivers to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that violated traffic safety lawsâ. This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the first step before possibly requesting a recall of the cars if the agency determines they pose a risk to road safety. Alarming Case Findings The agency stated it had received accounts of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red lights and traveling in the wrong direction during lane changes while using the technology. NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD activated, âcame to an intersection with a red light, proceeded to travel into the intersection against the red light and was later involved in a crash with other cars in the junctionâ. The authority noted that four accidents had caused injuries to occupants. Additional Issues Identified The NHTSA stated it has found 18 reports and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an junction with FSD active, âfailed to remain stopped for the duration of a red light, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and show the proper light status in the car's displayâ. Some complainants also claimed that FSD âdid not provide warnings of the system's intended actions as the car was approaching a red traffic signalâ. Continuing Official Examination The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its Autopilot system, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year. In late 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 sun glare, fog or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in 2023, was fatal. Company's Official Stance The company's official position indicates that FSD is âintended for use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the presently active features do not make the vehicle self-driving.â Automated vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals possible issues with current implementations.