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US automobile safety regulators have started an examination into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations following several accidents.

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Violations

The NHTSA declared that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands motorists to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had caused vehicle behaviour that breached road safety regulations”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the first step before potentially seeking a recall of the cars if the agency concludes they present a danger to public safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The regulatory body stated it had received accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles running red lights and traveling against the wrong direction during lane switching while operating the technology.

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

The agency noted that four crashes had caused injuries to occupants.

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 reports and one media report alleging that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD active, did not stay stopped for the entire time of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the proper light status in the vehicle interface”.

Several reporters also stated that FSD “failed to give alerts of the system's planned behaviour as the car was approaching a red light”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.

In October 2024, the agency began an inquiry into over two million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in situations of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in last year, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to assume control at any moment. While these capabilities are designed to become more capable, the presently active features do not make the vehicle autonomous.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals possible issues with current implementations.