American vehicle safety authorities have opened an probe into Tesla vehicles featuring the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations following multiple crashes.
The NHTSA stated that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires drivers to stay alert and take control when necessary, had âinduced car behavior that violated road safety regulationsâ.
This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the first step before possibly requesting a recall of the vehicles if the agency concludes they pose a risk to road safety.
The regulatory body reported it had documented accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla cars driving through red lights and traveling in the wrong direction during lane changes while using the system.
NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD activated, âcame to an intersection with a red light, continued to drive into the intersection against the red light and was later involved in a collision with other cars in the junctionâ.
The authority reported that four accidents had resulted in one or more injuries.
The NHTSA stated it has found 18 reports and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD active, âfailed to remain stopped for the entire time of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and show the correct traffic signal state in the vehicle interfaceâ.
Some complainants also claimed that FSD âdid not provide warnings of the technology's planned actions as the car was coming to a red lightâ.
The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated 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 documented crashes in situations of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in last year, was deadly.
Tesla's website states that FSD is âintended for operation by a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment. While these capabilities are designed to improve over time, the presently active features do not render the car self-driving.â
Automated car systems continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.
Elara Vance is a dedicated MapleStory enthusiast and gaming writer, known for creating in-depth guides and staying updated on game mechanics.
