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American vehicle safety authorities have started an probe into Tesla cars equipped with the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations after several collisions.

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

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 road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before potentially seeking a withdrawal of the vehicles if the authority determines they present a danger to road safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The regulatory body reported it had received accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and moving in the incorrect way during lane changes while using the system.

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 drive into the intersection despite the red light and was subsequently part of a crash with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

The agency reported that four crashes had resulted in injuries to occupants.

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 complaints and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an junction with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stationary for the entire time of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and display the correct traffic signal state in the car's display”.

Several reporters also claimed that FSD “failed to give alerts of the technology's intended actions as the vehicle was approaching a red light”.

Ongoing Official Examination

The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year.

In October 2024, the agency started an inquiry into 2.4 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 2023, was deadly.

Company's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for operation by a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to take over at any time. While these capabilities are designed to improve over time, the presently active functions do not make the vehicle self-driving.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with current implementations.