đ Share this article US Regulators Initiate Investigation into Self-Driving Tesla Vehicles After String of Crashes American vehicle safety authorities have opened an probe into Tesla vehicles equipped with the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations after numerous collisions. Regulatory Body Identifies Traffic Law Breaches The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires drivers to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had âinduced vehicle behaviour that violated traffic safety lawsâ. This early investigation by the NHTSA represents the first step before possibly seeking a withdrawal of the vehicles if the authority concludes they pose a risk to road safety. Concerning Case Findings The regulatory body stated it had received accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla cars driving through red lights and traveling in the wrong direction during lane switching while operating the system. NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with full self-driving engaged, âcame to an intersection with a red light, proceeded to travel into the crossroads despite the red signal and was subsequently part of a collision with other cars in the junctionâ. The agency noted that four accidents had resulted in injuries to occupants. Additional Issues Identified The NHTSA announced it has found 18 reports and one media report alleging that Tesla cars, driving through an intersection with FSD engaged, âfailed to remain stopped for the duration of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the proper traffic signal state in the vehicle interfaceâ. Several reporters also stated that FSD âfailed to give warnings of the system's planned actions as the car was coming to a red traffic signalâ. Continuing Official Examination Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year. In late 2024, the authority started an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars using FSD after four documented crashes in situations of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in 2023, was deadly. Company's Stated Position Tesla's website states that FSD is âintended for use with a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to assume control at any time. While these features are designed to improve over time, the presently active features do not make the car self-driving.â Automated vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with current implementations.