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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an probe into Tesla cars equipped with the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches following numerous accidents.

Regulatory Body Identifies Traffic Law Violations

The NHTSA announced that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands motorists to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that violated road safety regulations”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially seeking a withdrawal of the cars if the authority determines they present a danger to road safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The agency stated it had documented accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla cars running red lights and moving against the wrong way during lane changes while operating the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with full self-driving engaged, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, proceeded to travel into the crossroads against the red light and was subsequently involved in a crash with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

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

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 complaints and one news account alleging that Tesla vehicles, driving through an intersection with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red light, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and show the correct light status in the car's display”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “failed to give warnings of the technology's intended actions as the car was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its Autopilot system, has been under investigation by NHTSA for twelve months.

In October 2024, the authority began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of reduced 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 operation by a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to assume control at any moment. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the currently enabled features do not make the vehicle self-driving.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with current implementations.