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

Safety Agency Identifies Safety Regulation Breaches

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declared that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands motorists to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before potentially seeking a recall of the vehicles if the agency concludes they present a danger to road safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The agency reported it had documented reports of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles running red lights and traveling in the incorrect direction during lane switching while operating the system.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with FSD engaged, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, continued to travel into the intersection despite the red light and was subsequently involved in a crash with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

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

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 complaints and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles, driving through an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red light, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and display the proper light status in the car's display”.

Several reporters also claimed that FSD “did not provide warnings of the technology's intended actions as the vehicle was coming to a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Official Examination

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

In October 2024, the agency started an investigation into over two million Tesla cars using FSD after four documented crashes in situations of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist or airborne dust. One such accident, in last year, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for operation by a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is ready to assume control at any time. While these features are designed to improve over time, the currently enabled features do not make the car autonomous.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals possible issues with existing deployments.