🔗 Share this article

US automobile safety regulators have opened an examination into Tesla cars featuring the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches following several collisions.

Regulatory Body Identifies Traffic Law Violations

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had caused vehicle behaviour that violated road safety regulations”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before potentially seeking a recall of the cars if the authority determines they pose a risk to public safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

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

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with FSD activated, “came to an junction with a red traffic signal, continued to travel into the crossroads despite the red light and was later involved in a crash with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

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

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 reports and one news account alleging that Tesla vehicles, driving through an intersection with FSD engaged, did not stay stopped for the entire time of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the correct light status in the vehicle interface”.

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

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been under investigation by NHTSA for twelve months.

In late 2024, the authority started an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in situations of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in 2023, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for operation by a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to assume control at any moment. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the presently active functions do not make the car self-driving.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals possible issues with current implementations.