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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an probe into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches following numerous collisions.

Regulatory Body Finds Traffic Law Violations

The federal safety agency announced that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires drivers to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before potentially seeking a recall of the vehicles if the authority determines they present a danger to road safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The agency stated it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla cars driving through red lights and traveling in the incorrect direction during lane switching while using the system.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla car, using full self-driving activated, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, continued to travel into the intersection against the red light and was subsequently involved in a crash with other cars in the junction”.

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

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 complaints and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles, driving through an junction with FSD active, “failed to remain stationary for the entire time of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and display the proper traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “did not provide alerts of the system's intended behaviour as the vehicle was approaching a red light”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

In late 2024, the agency started an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four reported collisions in situations of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was fatal.

Company's Stated Position

Tesla's website states 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 designed to improve over time, the presently active features do not make the car autonomous.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals possible issues with existing deployments.