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US automobile safety regulators have started an investigation into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches after several accidents.

Safety Agency Identifies Traffic Law Breaches

The NHTSA stated that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to stay alert and intervene if needed, had “induced vehicle behaviour that breached road safety regulations”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA marks the first step before potentially seeking a recall of the cars if the agency determines they pose a risk to road safety.

Alarming 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 way during lane switching while using the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla car, using FSD activated, “approached an intersection with a red light, continued to drive into the crossroads despite the red light and was subsequently part of a crash with other cars in the junction”.

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

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 reports and one media report alleging that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD active, did not stay stopped for the entire time of a red light, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and show the correct light status in the vehicle interface”.

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

Continuing Official Examination

Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.

In October 2024, the authority began an inquiry into over two million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in situations of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, fog or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in last year, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for operation by a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to assume control at any moment. While these features are designed to become more capable, the currently enabled functions do not render the vehicle autonomous.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with current implementations.