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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an probe into Tesla cars featuring the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches following multiple accidents.

Safety Agency Identifies Traffic Law Violations

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declared that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires drivers to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that violated road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before possibly requesting a recall of the vehicles if the authority determines they pose a risk to road safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The regulatory body reported it had documented accounts of 2.88 million Tesla cars running red traffic lights and moving in the wrong way during lane switching while using the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD engaged, “came to an junction with a red light, proceeded to travel into the crossroads despite the red signal 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 Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 reports and one news account alleging that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD active, did not stay stationary for the entire time of a red traffic signal, 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 system's planned actions as the vehicle was approaching a red light”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

In October 2024, the authority began an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla cars using FSD after four documented crashes in situations of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was fatal.

Company's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment. While these features are designed to improve over time, the presently active functions do not make the vehicle autonomous.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.