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US automobile safety regulators have opened an probe into Tesla cars featuring the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations after several crashes.

Regulatory Body Identifies Traffic Law Breaches

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that violated road safety regulations”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the first step before possibly seeking a recall of the cars if the authority concludes they pose a risk to public safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The agency reported it had received accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles running red traffic lights and moving against the wrong direction during lane switching while using the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, using FSD activated, “came to an junction with a red light, proceeded to travel into the crossroads despite the red signal and was subsequently part of a crash with other cars in the intersection”.

The authority reported that four accidents had resulted in one or more injuries.

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 reports and one news account alleging that Tesla cars, driving through an intersection with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red light, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and display the correct light status in the car's display”.

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

Ongoing Official Examination

The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.

In late 2024, the agency started an investigation into over two million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in last year, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

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 capabilities are designed to improve over time, the currently enabled features do not make the car autonomous.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.