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American vehicle safety authorities have started an examination into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches after multiple collisions.

Regulatory Body Finds Traffic Law Violations

The federal safety agency stated that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands motorists to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had “induced vehicle behaviour that breached road safety regulations”.

This early investigation 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.

Concerning Case Findings

The agency reported it had documented accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla cars running red lights and moving in the wrong way during lane switching while using the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD activated, “approached an junction with a red traffic signal, proceeded to travel into the intersection against the red light and was later involved in a crash with other cars in the intersection”.

The agency noted that four crashes had caused injuries to occupants.

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 complaints and one news account alleging that Tesla vehicles, operating at an junction with FSD active, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red light, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and display the correct light status in the vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “did not provide warnings of the technology's intended actions as the vehicle was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Official Examination

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

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

Manufacturer's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for use with a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is ready to take over at any moment. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the currently enabled functions do not render the vehicle self-driving.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with current implementations.