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American vehicle safety authorities have opened an examination into Tesla cars featuring the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches after numerous collisions.

Regulatory Body Finds Traffic Law Violations

The federal safety agency stated that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires drivers to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused vehicle behaviour that violated traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before potentially seeking a withdrawal of the cars if the agency concludes they present a danger to road safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The regulatory body stated it had documented reports of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and moving in the incorrect direction during lane changes while using the system.

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

The authority reported that four accidents had caused injuries to occupants.

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 complaints and one news account alleging that Tesla cars, driving through an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stationary for the entire time of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and show the proper light status in the car's display”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “did not provide alerts of the technology's intended actions as the vehicle was coming to a red light”.

Ongoing Official Examination

Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been being examined by NHTSA for twelve months.

In late 2024, the authority started an investigation into over two million Tesla cars using FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in 2023, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for use with a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment. While these features are engineered to become more capable, the currently enabled functions do not make the car autonomous.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals possible issues with existing deployments.