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American vehicle safety authorities have opened an examination into Tesla cars equipped with the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches after multiple crashes.

Safety Agency Finds Traffic Law Violations

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had “induced car behavior that breached road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before possibly seeking a recall of the cars if the agency determines they pose a risk to public safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The regulatory body reported it had received accounts of 2.88 million Tesla cars driving through red lights and moving against the incorrect way during lane switching while using the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, using FSD activated, “came to an junction with a red traffic signal, proceeded to drive into the intersection despite the red signal and was later involved in a collision with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

The authority reported that four accidents had resulted in injuries to occupants.

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 reports and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, operating at 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 traffic signal state in the car's display”.

Several reporters also claimed that FSD “failed to give alerts of the technology's intended behaviour as the vehicle was coming to a red light”.

Ongoing Official Examination

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

In late 2024, the agency started an inquiry into over two million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One such accident, 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 prepared to take over at any moment. While these capabilities are designed to become more capable, the presently active features do not render the car autonomous.”

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