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American vehicle safety authorities have commenced an investigation into Tesla cars featuring the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations following several crashes.

Safety Agency Identifies Traffic Law Breaches

The NHTSA announced that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires drivers to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that violated road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before potentially seeking a withdrawal of the cars if the agency determines they present a danger to road safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The regulatory body reported it had received reports of nearly 3 million Tesla cars driving through red lights and moving against the wrong way during lane switching while operating the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla car, operating with full self-driving activated, “approached an junction with a red traffic signal, proceeded to drive into the intersection against the red light and was subsequently part of a crash with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

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

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD engaged, “failed to remain 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 traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

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

Continuing Official Examination

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

In October 2024, the agency started an inquiry into over two million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, mist or dust clouds. One such accident, in last year, was fatal.

Company's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for operation by a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment. While these features are designed to become more capable, the currently enabled features do not render the car autonomous.”

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.