🔗 Share this article

American vehicle safety authorities have opened an probe into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations following multiple crashes.

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

The NHTSA stated that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially requesting a recall of the vehicles if the authority concludes they present a danger to road safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The agency reported it had documented accounts of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red traffic lights and traveling in the incorrect direction during lane switching while using the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, using full self-driving engaged, “came to an junction with a red traffic signal, proceeded to travel into the intersection despite the red light and was later involved in a collision with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

The authority reported that four accidents had caused injuries to occupants.

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 reports and one news account alleging that Tesla vehicles, driving through an junction with FSD active, did not stay stopped for the duration of a red light, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and show the correct traffic signal state in the car's display”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “failed to give alerts of the system's planned actions as the car was coming to a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its Autopilot system, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.

In October 2024, the authority began an investigation into over two million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in situations of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One such accident, in last year, was deadly.

Company's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to assume control at any moment. While these capabilities are engineered to become more capable, the currently enabled functions do not render the vehicle autonomous.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals possible issues with current implementations.