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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an investigation into Tesla vehicles featuring the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations following numerous accidents.

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

The federal safety agency announced that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires motorists to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had caused vehicle behaviour that violated traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA represents the first step before possibly requesting a withdrawal of the vehicles if the authority concludes they present a danger to public safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The regulatory body reported it had received accounts of 2.88 million Tesla cars driving through red traffic lights and moving against the wrong direction during lane switching while operating the system.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with full self-driving activated, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, proceeded to travel into the intersection despite the red signal and was subsequently involved in a collision with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

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

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 complaints and one media report claiming that Tesla vehicles, operating at an intersection with FSD engaged, did not stay stationary for the entire time of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and display the proper traffic signal state in the car's display”.

Several reporters also stated that FSD “did not provide warnings of the technology's intended actions as the car was coming to a red light”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year.

In late 2024, the authority began an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles 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 deadly.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

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 time. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the presently active features do not make the car self-driving.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals possible issues with existing deployments.