đ Share this article US Regulators Initiate Inquiry into Self-Driving Teslas Following Series of Accidents American vehicle safety authorities have commenced an probe into Tesla vehicles featuring the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations after numerous collisions. Safety Agency Identifies Traffic Law Breaches The NHTSA declared that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires motorists to stay alert and intervene if needed, had âinduced car behavior that violated road safety regulationsâ. This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the vehicles if the authority concludes they present a danger to public safety. Concerning Case Findings The agency stated it had received accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla cars running red traffic lights and moving in the wrong direction during lane switching while operating the system. NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla car, operating with full self-driving engaged, âapproached an junction with a red traffic signal, proceeded to drive into the crossroads despite the red signal and was subsequently involved in a collision with other motor vehicles in the intersectionâ. The agency reported that four crashes had resulted in one or more injuries. Further Safety Concerns The NHTSA stated it has found 18 complaints and one news account claiming that Tesla vehicles, driving through an intersection with FSD engaged, did not stay stationary for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and show the proper light status in the car's displayâ. Some complainants also claimed that FSD âfailed to give alerts of the system's planned actions as the car was approaching a red lightâ. Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for twelve months. In October 2024, the authority began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in situations of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was deadly. Company's Official Stance The company's official position indicates that FSD is âintended for use with a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the presently active functions do not make the car self-driving.â Automated car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals possible issues with existing deployments.