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

Regulatory Body Finds Traffic Law Violations

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires drivers to stay alert and take control when necessary, had “induced car behavior that breached road safety regulations”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the agency concludes they pose a risk to public safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The agency stated it had documented accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and traveling against the wrong direction during lane switching while operating the system.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla car, operating with full self-driving activated, “approached an junction with a red light, continued to travel into the crossroads against the red light and was subsequently involved in a collision with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

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

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 complaints and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles, operating at an junction with FSD active, did not stay stationary for the entire time of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show 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 vehicle was approaching a red light”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.

In October 2024, the authority started an inquiry into over two million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four documented crashes in situations of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in last year, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for operation by a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to take over at any time. While these capabilities are engineered to become more capable, the presently active functions do not render the vehicle autonomous.”

Automated car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.