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US automobile safety regulators have started an probe into Tesla cars featuring the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations after several collisions.

Regulatory Body Identifies Traffic Law Breaches

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declared that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before potentially seeking a recall of the cars if the agency determines they pose a risk to road safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The agency reported it had documented reports of nearly 3 million Tesla cars running red lights and moving in the wrong direction during lane changes while using the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with FSD activated, “approached an junction with a red traffic signal, continued to drive into the intersection against the red light and was later part of a collision with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

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

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 reports and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an junction with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and display the correct light status in the vehicle interface”.

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

Ongoing Official Examination

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

In October 2024, the agency started an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in situations of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was fatal.

Company's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for operation by a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment. While these features are designed to become more capable, the currently enabled features do not make the car self-driving.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals possible issues with current implementations.