US automobile safety regulators have commenced an probe into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches following multiple collisions.
The federal safety agency announced that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires drivers to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused vehicle behaviour that violated traffic safety laws”.
This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before potentially seeking a withdrawal of the cars if the authority determines they present a danger to public safety.
The regulatory body reported it had documented reports of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles running 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 vehicle, operating with full self-driving activated, “came to an intersection with a red light, proceeded to travel into the intersection against the red light and was subsequently part of a crash with other cars in the junction”.
The agency reported that four accidents had caused injuries to occupants.
The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 complaints and one news account alleging that Tesla vehicles, operating at an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stopped for the duration of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, 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 warnings of the system's intended behaviour as the car was approaching a red light”.
Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.
In October 2024, the authority 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 airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was deadly.
The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to assume control at any moment. While these features are designed to become more capable, the presently active features do not render the vehicle self-driving.”
Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals possible issues with current implementations.
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