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American vehicle safety authorities have started an probe into Tesla cars equipped with the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches after multiple collisions.

Regulatory Body Finds Traffic Law Breaches

The NHTSA announced that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands motorists to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had caused car behavior that breached road safety regulations”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before possibly requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the authority determines they present a danger to road safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The agency reported it had received reports of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and traveling against the incorrect way during lane switching while using the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD engaged, “approached an junction with a red light, proceeded to drive into the crossroads against the red light and was later involved in a crash with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

The agency noted that four crashes had caused one or more injuries.

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 complaints and one news account claiming that Tesla vehicles, operating at an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stationary for the entire time of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the proper traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

Several reporters also claimed that FSD “did not provide warnings of the system's intended behaviour as the vehicle was coming to a red light”.

Continuing Official Examination

Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for twelve months.

In late 2024, the agency started an investigation into over two million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist or dust clouds. One such accident, in 2023, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment. While these features are engineered to become more capable, the presently active functions do not make the vehicle self-driving.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with current implementations.