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American vehicle safety authorities have opened an examination into Tesla cars featuring the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations after multiple accidents.

Regulatory Body Finds Traffic Law Violations

The NHTSA announced that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had caused vehicle behaviour that violated traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the vehicles if the agency determines they present a danger to road safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The agency stated it had received accounts of 2.88 million Tesla cars driving through red lights and traveling in the wrong direction during lane changes while using the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, using FSD activated, “came to an intersection with a red light, continued to drive into the intersection against the red light and was subsequently part of a collision with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

The agency noted that four crashes had caused injuries to occupants.

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 complaints and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles, operating at an junction with FSD active, did not stay stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the proper traffic signal state in the car's display”.

Several reporters also stated that FSD “did not provide alerts of the technology's planned actions as the vehicle was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

In October 2024, the authority started an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, fog or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in last year, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for operation by a fully attentive driver, 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 presently active functions do not render the vehicle autonomous.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.