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US automobile safety regulators have opened an investigation into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations following several collisions.

Safety Agency Identifies Traffic Law Breaches

The federal safety agency announced that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to stay alert and intervene if needed, had “induced car behavior that breached road safety regulations”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA marks the first step before possibly requesting a recall of the cars if the agency determines they pose a risk to road safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The regulatory body stated it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla cars running red lights and moving against the incorrect direction during lane switching while operating the system.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, using FSD activated, “came to an junction with a red light, proceeded to drive into the intersection despite the red light and was later involved in a crash with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

The authority reported that four crashes had caused one or more injuries.

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 reports and one media report alleging that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD active, did not stay stopped for the entire time of a red light, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and display the proper light status in the vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “did not provide alerts of the technology's intended behaviour as the vehicle was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

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 authority started an inquiry into over two million Tesla cars using FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in last year, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

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 ready to take over at any moment. While these features are engineered to become more capable, the currently enabled functions do not make the car self-driving.”

Automated car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with current implementations.