🔗 Share this article

US automobile safety regulators have started an investigation into Tesla cars equipped with the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations after numerous collisions.

Safety Agency Identifies Safety Regulation Violations

The NHTSA announced that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires drivers to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused vehicle behaviour that violated road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the agency determines they pose a risk to road safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The regulatory body stated it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla cars driving through red traffic lights and moving in the wrong way during lane changes while operating the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD engaged, “approached an junction with a red light, proceeded to travel into the intersection despite the red light and was later involved in a collision with other cars in the intersection”.

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

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 reports and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an intersection with FSD engaged, did not stay stopped for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the proper traffic signal state in the car's display”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “did not provide alerts of the system's planned actions as the vehicle was approaching a red light”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year.

In October 2024, the authority started an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla cars using FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or dust clouds. One such accident, in last year, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

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

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