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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an probe into Tesla vehicles equipped with the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations following multiple collisions.

Regulatory Body Identifies Safety Regulation Breaches

The NHTSA declared that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires drivers to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had “induced vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the first step before possibly requesting a withdrawal of the vehicles if the agency determines they present a danger to public safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The regulatory body stated it had received reports of nearly 3 million Tesla cars running red lights and moving in the incorrect direction during lane changes while using the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD activated, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, continued to drive into the crossroads despite the red light and was later involved in a crash with other cars in the junction”.

The authority noted that four accidents had caused injuries to occupants.

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 reports and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an junction with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stopped for the duration of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and show the correct light status in the vehicle interface”.

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

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its Autopilot system, has been being examined by NHTSA for twelve months.

In October 2024, the authority started an inquiry into over two million Tesla cars using FSD after four reported collisions in situations of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, 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 use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is ready to assume control at any moment. While these features are engineered to become more capable, the currently enabled functions do not make the vehicle self-driving.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals possible issues with current implementations.