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US automobile safety regulators have opened an examination into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations following several collisions.

Regulatory Body Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

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

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the first step before possibly requesting a withdrawal of the vehicles if the agency concludes they pose a risk to public safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The regulatory body reported it had documented accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles running red traffic lights and traveling in the incorrect way during lane switching while operating the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, using FSD activated, “approached an junction with a red light, proceeded to travel into the intersection against the red signal and was later involved in a crash with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

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

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 reports and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an junction with FSD active, did not stay stationary for the entire time of a red light, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and show the correct traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “failed to give alerts of the system's intended behaviour as the car was coming to a red light”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its Autopilot system, has been being examined by NHTSA for twelve months.

In late 2024, the authority began an inquiry into over two million Tesla cars using FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One such accident, in last year, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for operation by a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to take over at any time. While these features are engineered to become more capable, the presently active features do not make the car self-driving.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals possible issues with current implementations.