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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an examination into Tesla vehicles equipped with the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations following several accidents.

Regulatory Body Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

The NHTSA declared that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires motorists to stay alert and intervene if needed, had caused vehicle behaviour that violated traffic safety laws”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the first step before potentially seeking a withdrawal of the cars if the authority concludes they pose a risk to road safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The agency reported it had received accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla cars driving through red traffic lights and traveling against the wrong direction during lane switching while using the system.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, using full self-driving activated, “approached an intersection with a red traffic signal, proceeded to drive into the crossroads against the red signal and was subsequently involved in a collision with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

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

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an junction with FSD engaged, did not stay stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and show the correct light status in the car's display”.

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

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its Autopilot system, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.

In late 2024, the authority started an inquiry into over two million Tesla cars using FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, fog or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in last year, was fatal.

Company's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to assume control at any time. While these capabilities are designed to become more capable, the presently active functions do not render the vehicle self-driving.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.