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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an examination into Tesla cars featuring the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations after numerous crashes.

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Violations

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had “induced car behavior that breached traffic safety laws”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the first step before potentially seeking a recall of the vehicles if the agency concludes they present a danger to public safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The agency reported it had received accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and moving against the incorrect direction during lane changes while operating the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, using FSD engaged, “approached an junction with a red light, continued to travel into the crossroads despite the red signal and was subsequently involved in a collision with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

The agency reported that four accidents had caused one or more injuries.

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an intersection with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stopped for the entire time of a red light, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and display the correct light status in the vehicle interface”.

Several reporters also stated that FSD “did not provide warnings of the technology's planned behaviour as the car was approaching a red light”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

In late 2024, the agency began an investigation into over two million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in last year, was deadly.

Company's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for use with a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to take over at any moment. While these capabilities are engineered to improve over time, the currently enabled features 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 existing deployments.