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American vehicle safety authorities have started an examination into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches following multiple collisions.

Regulatory Body Identifies Traffic Law Breaches

The federal safety agency stated that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands motorists to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that violated road safety regulations”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before possibly seeking a withdrawal of the cars if the agency concludes they pose a risk to public safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The regulatory body stated it had received reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and traveling against the incorrect direction during lane changes while operating the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD engaged, “approached an junction with a red light, proceeded to drive into the crossroads despite the red signal and was later part of a collision with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

The agency reported that four crashes had resulted in injuries to occupants.

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 complaints and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an intersection with FSD engaged, did not stay stationary for the entire time of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and display the correct light status in the car's display”.

Several reporters also claimed that FSD “failed to give warnings of the system's intended behaviour as the vehicle was coming to a red light”.

Ongoing Official Examination

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

In late 2024, the authority started an inquiry into over two million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, fog or airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was deadly.

Company's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for operation by a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to assume control at any moment. While these capabilities are engineered to improve over time, the presently active features do not make the vehicle self-driving.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.