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American vehicle safety authorities have opened an probe into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches following numerous collisions.

Regulatory Body Finds Traffic Law Violations

The NHTSA announced that the automaker'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 early investigation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before possibly seeking a withdrawal of the cars if the agency concludes they present a danger to road safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The regulatory body stated it had received accounts of 2.88 million Tesla cars running red traffic lights and traveling against the incorrect way during lane changes while using the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD engaged, “came to an intersection with a red light, proceeded to travel into the crossroads against the red signal and was later part of a crash with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

The authority reported that four crashes had resulted in one or more injuries.

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 reports and one news account alleging 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 display the proper traffic signal state in the car's display”.

Several reporters also stated that FSD “failed to give warnings of the system's planned actions as the vehicle was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Ongoing Official Examination

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

In October 2024, the authority 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, fog or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in last year, was fatal.

Company's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for operation by a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is ready to take over at any moment. While these features are designed to become more capable, the presently active features do not make the vehicle autonomous.”

Automated car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.