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US automobile safety regulators have started an probe into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations following several collisions.

Regulatory Body Identifies Traffic Law Breaches

The NHTSA announced that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had “induced car behavior that breached road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the first step before possibly requesting a recall of the cars if the agency concludes they present a danger to public safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The regulatory body reported it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and moving against the incorrect direction during lane changes while operating the system.

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

The authority noted that four accidents had resulted in one or more injuries.

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD engaged, “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 correct light status in the vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “failed to give warnings of the system's intended actions as the vehicle was approaching a red light”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

In late 2024, the authority began an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in situations of poor visibility, such as sun glare, fog or airborne dust. One such accident, in last year, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for operation by a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to assume control at any moment. While these capabilities are engineered to improve over time, the presently active functions do not render the car autonomous.”

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