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American vehicle safety authorities have commenced an examination into Tesla vehicles equipped with the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations after multiple collisions.

Safety Agency Finds Traffic Law Breaches

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires drivers to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had caused vehicle behaviour that violated road safety regulations”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially requesting a recall of the vehicles if the agency determines they pose a risk to road safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The regulatory body reported it had received reports of nearly 3 million Tesla cars driving through red traffic lights and traveling against the wrong way during lane changes while using the technology.

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, continued to drive into the intersection against the red signal and was subsequently involved in a crash with other cars in the intersection”.

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

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 reports and one media report alleging that Tesla cars, driving through an intersection with FSD active, 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”.

Several reporters also stated that FSD “failed to give alerts of the technology's intended behaviour as the vehicle was approaching a red light”.

Continuing Official Examination

Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been being examined by NHTSA for twelve months.

In late 2024, the agency started an investigation into over two million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was deadly.

Company's Stated Position

Tesla's website states 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 designed to improve over time, the presently active functions do not make the vehicle self-driving.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.