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

Regulatory Body Finds Safety Regulation Violations

The federal safety agency stated that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands drivers to stay alert and intervene if needed, had caused car behavior that breached road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the first step before potentially requesting a recall of the vehicles if the agency determines they present a danger to road safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The regulatory body reported it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red lights and moving against the wrong direction during lane changes while using the system.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with full self-driving engaged, “approached an junction with a red traffic signal, proceeded to drive into the crossroads against the red signal and was subsequently part of a collision with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

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

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 complaints and one media report alleging that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stopped for the entire time of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show 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 car was coming to a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

In late 2024, the authority began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four reported collisions in situations of poor visibility, such as sun glare, fog or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in 2023, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for operation by a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment. While these features are designed to improve over time, the currently enabled functions do not make the vehicle autonomous.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals possible issues with current implementations.