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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an investigation into Tesla cars featuring the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations following several crashes.

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that violated road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the first step before potentially seeking a withdrawal of the cars if the agency determines they present a danger to public safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The regulatory body stated it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla cars driving through red traffic lights and traveling against the incorrect way during lane changes while operating the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, using full self-driving activated, “came to an junction with a red traffic signal, continued to travel into the intersection despite the red signal and was subsequently part of a collision with other cars in the intersection”.

The authority reported that four accidents had caused one or more injuries.

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 complaints and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stationary for the entire time of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and show the correct light status in the vehicle interface”.

Several reporters also claimed that FSD “did not provide warnings of the technology's intended behaviour as the car was coming to a red light”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its Autopilot system, has been under investigation by NHTSA for twelve months.

In October 2024, the authority started an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four reported collisions in situations of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, fog or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in 2023, was deadly.

Company's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for operation by a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to assume control at any time. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the presently active functions do not render the vehicle autonomous.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals possible issues with existing deployments.