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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an investigation into Tesla cars featuring the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations following several collisions.

Regulatory Body Finds Safety Regulation Violations

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands motorists to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had caused car behavior that breached traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before possibly seeking a recall of the cars if the authority concludes they present a danger to public safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The regulatory body stated it had received accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles running red traffic lights and traveling against the wrong direction during lane switching while using the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, using full self-driving engaged, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, continued to travel into the intersection against the red light and was later involved in a collision with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

The agency noted that four crashes 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 intersection with FSD active, did not stay stopped for the duration of a red light, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and display the correct light status in the car's display”.

Several reporters also claimed that FSD “did not provide alerts of the system's intended actions as the vehicle was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

In late 2024, the agency started an investigation into over two million Tesla cars using FSD after four documented crashes in situations of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One such accident, in last year, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for use with a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to assume control at any moment. While these capabilities are designed to improve over time, the currently enabled features do not render the car autonomous.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with current implementations.