🔗 Share this article

US automobile safety regulators have commenced an examination into Tesla cars featuring the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations following numerous accidents.

Regulatory Body Identifies Safety Regulation Violations

The NHTSA announced that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that breached road safety regulations”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the vehicles if the authority determines they pose a risk to road safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The regulatory body reported it had documented accounts of 2.88 million Tesla cars running red lights and moving against the incorrect way during lane switching while operating the system.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with full self-driving engaged, “came to an junction with a red light, proceeded to drive into the intersection against the red light and was subsequently involved in a crash with other cars in the intersection”.

The authority noted that four accidents had caused one or more injuries.

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 complaints and one news account claiming that Tesla vehicles, driving through an intersection with FSD engaged, did not stay stopped for the entire time of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and display the correct traffic signal state in the car's display”.

Some complainants also claimed 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 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 vehicles using FSD after four documented crashes in situations of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or dust clouds. One such accident, in 2023, was fatal.

Company's Official Stance

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

Automated vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.