🔗 Share this article

US automobile safety regulators have opened an probe into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches following several crashes.

Regulatory Body Identifies Traffic Law Breaches

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that breached traffic safety laws”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before possibly requesting a withdrawal of the vehicles if the agency concludes they present a danger to public safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The agency stated it had documented reports of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles running red lights and traveling in the incorrect direction during lane changes while using the system.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD activated, “approached an intersection with a red traffic signal, continued to travel into the intersection despite the red light and was subsequently involved in a crash with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

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

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 reports and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles, operating at an intersection with FSD engaged, did not stay stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and display the correct traffic signal state in the car's display”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “failed to give warnings of the technology's planned actions as the car was coming to a red light”.

Ongoing Official Examination

Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year.

In October 2024, the authority began an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as sun glare, fog or dust clouds. One such accident, in 2023, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed 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 capabilities are engineered to become more capable, the currently enabled functions do not render the car autonomous.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.