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US automobile safety regulators have opened an probe into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches following numerous collisions.

Safety Agency Identifies Safety Regulation Violations

The federal safety agency declared that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires motorists to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had “induced vehicle behaviour that violated road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before potentially seeking a withdrawal of the cars if the agency concludes they present a danger to public safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The regulatory body stated it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla cars driving through red lights and moving against the wrong direction during lane switching while using the system.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, using full self-driving engaged, “approached an junction with a red light, continued to drive into the intersection despite the red signal and was later involved in a crash with other cars in the intersection”.

The authority noted that four accidents had caused injuries to occupants.

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 complaints and one news account alleging that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stationary for the entire time of a red light, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and show the proper light status in the car's display”.

Several reporters also stated that FSD “did not provide alerts of the technology's intended actions as the car was coming to a red light”.

Continuing Official Examination

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

In late 2024, the agency began an inquiry into over two million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in situations of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or dust clouds. One such accident, in 2023, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for use with a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to assume control at any moment. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the currently enabled features do not make the vehicle self-driving.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals possible issues with current implementations.