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US automobile safety regulators have started an examination into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations following multiple accidents.

Regulatory Body Identifies Safety Regulation Violations

The federal safety agency announced that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to stay alert and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that violated road safety regulations”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before possibly requesting a withdrawal of the vehicles if the agency concludes they pose a risk to road safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The agency reported it had received accounts of 2.88 million Tesla cars driving through red traffic lights and traveling in the wrong way during lane switching while operating the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, using FSD activated, “came to an junction with a red traffic signal, proceeded to travel into the intersection despite the red light and was later part of a collision with other cars in the intersection”.

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

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 reports and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an junction 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 proper light status in the car's display”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “failed to give alerts of the system's intended actions as the vehicle was coming to a red light”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

In late 2024, the authority began an inquiry into over two million Tesla cars using FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in 2023, was fatal.

Company's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for operation by a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to assume control at any moment. While these features are engineered to become more capable, the presently active functions do not render the vehicle self-driving.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.