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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an probe into Tesla vehicles featuring the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches after multiple accidents.

Regulatory Body Identifies Traffic Law Breaches

The NHTSA declared that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had “induced car behavior that violated road safety regulations”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before potentially requesting a recall of the vehicles if the authority concludes they pose a risk to public safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The agency stated it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla cars driving through red traffic lights and traveling in the wrong way during lane switching while operating the system.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, using full self-driving activated, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, continued to drive into the crossroads against the red light and was later involved in a collision with other cars in the intersection”.

The authority reported that four accidents had caused injuries to occupants.

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 reports and one news account alleging that Tesla cars, operating at an junction with FSD active, “failed to remain stopped 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 display”.

Several reporters also claimed that FSD “did not provide warnings of the technology's planned actions as the car was coming to a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Official Examination

Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for twelve months.

In late 2024, the agency started an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla cars 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 deadly.

Company's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for operation by a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to assume control at any moment. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the presently active features do not make the vehicle self-driving.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with current implementations.