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US automobile safety regulators have opened an probe into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations after several accidents.

Safety Agency Finds Traffic Law Breaches

The federal safety agency announced that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had “induced vehicle behaviour that violated road safety regulations”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA marks the first step before possibly seeking a withdrawal of the cars if the agency concludes they present a danger to road safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The agency reported it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla cars driving through red lights and traveling in the wrong way during lane switching while operating the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with FSD activated, “came to an intersection with a red light, continued to travel into the crossroads despite the red light and was later involved in a collision with other cars in the junction”.

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

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 reports and one media report alleging that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD engaged, did not stay stationary for the entire time of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and show the correct light status in the car's display”.

Several reporters also stated that FSD “did not provide alerts of the technology's intended actions as the car was coming to a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Official Examination

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

In October 2024, the agency began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four reported collisions in situations of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in last year, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for use with a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to take over at any time. While these capabilities are designed to improve over time, the presently active features do not render the vehicle self-driving.”

Automated car systems continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals possible issues with current implementations.