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American vehicle safety authorities have started an investigation into Tesla vehicles featuring the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations after numerous accidents.

Regulatory Body Finds Traffic Law Breaches

The NHTSA stated that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had “induced vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before potentially requesting a recall of the cars if the authority determines they present a danger to public safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The agency stated it had documented accounts of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red lights and moving in the wrong direction during lane switching while using the system.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, using full self-driving activated, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, continued to drive into the crossroads despite the red light and was subsequently part of a crash with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

The agency reported that four crashes had resulted in one or more injuries.

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 complaints and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stopped for the duration of a red light, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and show the correct light status in the vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “did not provide warnings of the system's planned actions as the car was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.

In October 2024, the authority started an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four documented crashes in situations of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, mist or dust clouds. One such accident, in last year, was deadly.

Company's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for operation by a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to assume control at any moment. While these capabilities are engineered to improve over time, the presently active functions do not render the car self-driving.”

Automated car systems continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.