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

Safety Agency Finds Traffic Law Breaches

The federal safety agency stated that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that violated road safety regulations”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the first step before potentially seeking a recall of the cars if the authority concludes they pose a risk to road safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The agency reported it had received reports of 2.88 million Tesla cars running red traffic lights and traveling in the incorrect way during lane changes while using the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, using FSD engaged, “approached an intersection with a red light, continued to travel into the intersection against the red light and was later involved in a crash with other cars in the intersection”.

The agency noted that four accidents had resulted in one or more injuries.

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 complaints and one news account alleging that Tesla vehicles, operating at an junction with FSD active, 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 light status in the car's display”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “failed to give warnings of the system's intended behaviour as the car was coming to a red light”.

Continuing Official Examination

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

In late 2024, the authority began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars using FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in last year, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for operation by a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to assume control at any time. While these features are designed 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 technology advances and real-world testing reveals possible issues with existing deployments.