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American vehicle safety authorities have started an probe into Tesla cars equipped with the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches following several collisions.

Safety Agency Finds Traffic Law Violations

The NHTSA declared that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused vehicle behaviour that violated traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the authority determines they present a danger to public safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The regulatory body stated it had received reports of nearly 3 million Tesla cars driving through red traffic lights and moving in the wrong direction during lane changes while using the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, using FSD activated, “came to an junction with a red traffic signal, proceeded to drive into the crossroads against the red light and was subsequently part of a collision with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

The agency noted that four accidents had resulted in one or more injuries.

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 complaints and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD active, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and display the proper light status in the vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “did not provide warnings of the system's intended behaviour as the vehicle was approaching a red light”.

Ongoing Official Examination

The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for twelve months.

In October 2024, the authority began an inquiry into over two million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, fog or airborne dust. One such accident, in last year, was fatal.

Company's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for use with a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment. While these capabilities are engineered to become more capable, the currently enabled features do not make the car autonomous.”

Automated car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.