🔗 Share this article

US automobile safety regulators have opened an examination into Tesla vehicles featuring the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations after several collisions.

Regulatory Body Identifies Traffic Law Violations

The federal safety agency declared that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to stay alert and intervene if needed, had caused vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the vehicles if the agency determines they present a danger to road safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The regulatory body reported it had received reports of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles driving through red lights and traveling against the incorrect direction during lane changes while operating the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla car, using full self-driving activated, “came to an intersection with a red light, continued to travel into the crossroads despite the red light and was later part of a crash with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

The agency reported that four crashes had caused injuries to occupants.

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 complaints and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an intersection with FSD engaged, “failed to remain 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 stated that FSD “failed to give alerts of the system's planned behaviour as the vehicle was coming to a red traffic signal”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year.

In late 2024, the agency began an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla cars using FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, mist or dust clouds. One such accident, in last year, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for operation by a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to take over at any time. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the currently enabled functions do not render the vehicle autonomous.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.