U.S. authorities have opened an investigation into Tesla’s ‘Full Self-Driving’ (FSD) technology in an effort that could change the conversation about driver-assist systems. The preliminary investigation was conducted across almost 2.9 million automobiles.
58 reported incidents involving Teslas behaving in ways that seemed to defy traffic regulations, running red lights, failing to stop at crossings or making hazardous lane changes, resulting in 14 collisions and 23 injuries. Six times in particular, cars were reportedly crossing into intersections against red lights, a habit that has intrigued detectives. Though the FSD (Full Self-Driving) software is marketed as requiring active human oversight, consumers involved in the flagged incidents contended the system did not furnish clear notifications or signals preceding unusual moves.
Given the restrictions of the system, NHTSA’s investigation tries to establish whether Tesla’s warnings and fail-safe methods are sufficient. Among regulatory actions examining Tesla’s self-driving and partially autonomous features, this inquiry is the most current. The agency has reviewed Tesla’s Autopilot system, ‘Smart Summon’ capability, and the company’s reporting methods for crashes involving sophisticated driving aids during the past months.
Some detractors argue that Tesla’s promotion of FSD implies complete autonomy, even though its official guidelines call for driver supervision; some questions have also been raised regarding Tesla’s consumer communication. Tesla’s stock reacted quickly to the news, dropping nearly 1% as investors evaluated the consequences of a possible recall or more stringent regulations connected to the investigation.
Tesla has not yet made a public remark regarding the fresh inquiry. In the meantime, the business keeps testing and marketing its robotaxi idea in chosen U.S. cities such as Austin and Arizona, efforts now possibly under increasing regulatory examination in view of growing safety worries. The outcome of this NHTSA assessment could decide whether Tesla has to recall cars or provide extensive software corrections, an outcome that will reverberate throughout the world.
