đ Share this article American Regulators Launch Investigation into Self-Driving Tesla Vehicles After String of Crashes US automobile safety regulators have started an investigation into Tesla cars featuring the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations following numerous crashes. Regulatory Body Finds Safety Regulation Violations The NHTSA stated that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands motorists to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had caused car behavior that violated road safety regulationsâ. This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA marks the first step before potentially requesting a recall of the cars if the agency concludes they pose a risk to road safety. Concerning Incident Reports The regulatory body reported it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red lights and moving in the incorrect way during lane changes while operating the system. NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with full self-driving activated, âapproached an intersection with a red light, proceeded to drive into the intersection despite the red light and was later part of a collision with other cars in the junctionâ. The authority noted that four accidents had caused injuries to occupants. Further Safety Concerns The NHTSA stated it has found 18 reports and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD engaged, âfailed to remain stationary 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. Some complainants also stated that FSD âdid not provide warnings of the technology's planned actions as the vehicle was approaching a red traffic signalâ. Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its Autopilot system, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year. In October 2024, the agency started an investigation into over two million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, mist or dust clouds. One such accident, in last year, was fatal. Company's Official Stance Tesla's website states that FSD is âdesigned for use with a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is ready to assume control at any time. While these capabilities are designed to improve over time, the currently enabled features do not make the vehicle self-driving.â Self-driving car systems continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals possible issues with existing deployments.