🔗 Share this article

US automobile safety regulators have commenced an investigation into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations following numerous crashes.

Safety Agency Finds Traffic Law Breaches

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.

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

Concerning Incident Reports

The agency stated it had received accounts of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red lights and moving against the wrong direction during lane switching while operating the system.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, using FSD activated, “approached an intersection with a red light, continued to drive into the crossroads despite the red signal and was subsequently involved in a crash with other cars in the intersection”.

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

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 reports and one media report alleging that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD active, “failed to remain stopped for the duration of a red light, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and show the correct light status in the vehicle interface”.

Several reporters also stated that FSD “failed to give alerts of the system's planned actions as the vehicle was approaching a red light”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its Autopilot system, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year.

In late 2024, the authority began an inquiry into over two million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in situations of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, mist or dust clouds. One such accident, in last year, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for use with a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is ready to take over at any time. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the presently active features do not render the car autonomous.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals possible issues with existing deployments.