🔗 Share this article

US automobile safety regulators have started an probe into Tesla cars featuring the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations after several accidents.

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

The NHTSA stated that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands drivers to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had caused car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the agency concludes they present a danger to public safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The agency stated it had received reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red lights and moving against the wrong way during lane changes while operating the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, using FSD engaged, “approached an intersection with a red light, proceeded to travel into the intersection against the red signal and was subsequently part of a collision with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

The agency noted that four crashes had resulted in one or more injuries.

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla vehicles, operating at an intersection with FSD active, did not stay stationary for the entire time of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the correct traffic signal state in the car's display”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “did not provide alerts of the system's planned actions as the car was coming to a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

In October 2024, the agency began an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in situations of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in 2023, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to assume control at any time. While these capabilities are designed to become more capable, the currently enabled functions do not render the car self-driving.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with current implementations.