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US automobile safety regulators have started an examination into Tesla cars featuring the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations after numerous accidents.

Regulatory Body Identifies Traffic Law Breaches

The NHTSA announced that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands drivers to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that violated road safety regulations”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before possibly seeking a recall of the vehicles if the authority concludes they present a danger to public safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The agency stated it had received reports of 2.88 million Tesla cars driving through red traffic lights and moving against the wrong way during lane changes while operating the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, using FSD activated, “came to an intersection with a red light, continued to travel into the intersection against the red signal and was later involved in a crash with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

The agency noted that four accidents had resulted in injuries to occupants.

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 complaints and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stationary for the entire time of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and display the proper light status in the vehicle interface”.

Several reporters also claimed that FSD “did not provide alerts of the technology's planned behaviour as the vehicle was approaching a red light”.

Continuing Official Examination

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 began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars using FSD after four reported collisions in situations of poor visibility, such as sun glare, fog or dust clouds. One such accident, in last year, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for use with a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to take over at any moment. While these features are engineered to become more capable, the presently active features do not render the car autonomous.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with current implementations.