US highway department investigation

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a formal investigation into Tesla's autopilot system after another accident involving it.

Tesla (TSLA) shares fell 4.3% on Monday after the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched a formal investigation into Tesla's autopilot system.

The government agency said it has identified 11 accidents involving Tesla autopilot or cruise control cars since the start of 2018. The accidents resulted in 17 injuries and one fatality.

According to the NHTSA document, most of the incidents occurred after dark and at locations where cars with flashing lights, traffic cones, illuminated signs or other illuminated objects on the road were parked.

NHTSA has previously investigated accidents involving Tesla's autopilot system, in June the agency required all automakers to report accidents involving automated driving technology. Until then, the agency had largely taken a non-interventionist approach to regulating driver assistance systems so as not to interfere with their potential safety benefits.

CEO Elon Musk has repeatedly stated that Tesla's Level 2 autopilot system requires constant attention and monitoring by the driver.

Despite repeated accidents and investigations, Musk has insisted that a Tesla with autopilot is about "10 times less likely to have an accident" than a conventional car.

What does this threaten Tesla with?

The current NHTSA investigation will have a negative impact on Tesla stock, at least in the short term, as investors will be waiting to see how it ends for the company.

Up to this point Tesla has taken it upon itself to correctly inform drivers of the capabilities of the autopilot and cruise control systems in its cars, and that drivers are required to ensure they are in control of the road.

For years Tesla has only attempted to track whether the driver's hands are on the steering wheel, it has no cameras to track the driver's gaze.

Jake Fisher, director of vehicle testing at Consumer Reports, believes that to prevent accidents and ensure safer autonomous driving, automakers should incorporate driver monitoring technology.