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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an examination into Tesla cars equipped with the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches following several accidents.

Regulatory Body Finds Traffic Law Breaches

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands motorists to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had “induced car behavior that violated road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the first step before possibly requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the agency concludes they pose a risk to road safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The regulatory body reported it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red lights and moving against the incorrect direction during lane changes while operating the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, using full self-driving activated, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, proceeded to drive into the crossroads despite the red light and was subsequently involved in a crash with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

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

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain 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 vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “failed to give warnings of the technology's planned actions as the vehicle was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Ongoing Official Examination

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

In October 2024, the agency began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in last year, was deadly.

Company's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for use with a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment. While these capabilities are designed to become more capable, the presently active features do not make the vehicle autonomous.”

Automated car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.