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US automobile safety regulators have started an probe into Tesla cars equipped with the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches following numerous collisions.

Safety Agency Identifies Traffic Law Violations

The federal safety agency stated that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires drivers to stay alert and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that violated road safety regulations”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA marks the first step before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the vehicles if the authority determines they pose a risk to road safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The regulatory body stated it had documented reports of nearly 3 million Tesla cars running red traffic lights and moving in the incorrect way during lane switching while using the system.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with full self-driving engaged, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, proceeded to travel into the intersection against the red signal and was later involved in a crash with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

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

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 reports and one news account alleging that Tesla vehicles, driving through an junction with FSD active, did not stay stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and display the correct light status in the vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “did not provide warnings of the system's intended actions as the vehicle was approaching a red light”.

Continuing Official Examination

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

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

Manufacturer's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for operation by a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any time. While these features are designed to become more capable, the currently enabled features do not render the vehicle self-driving.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.