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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an investigation into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches following several collisions.

Regulatory Body Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

The federal safety agency announced that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had “induced car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”.

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

Concerning Case Findings

The agency stated it had received reports of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and moving in the incorrect direction during lane changes while using the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla car, using full self-driving activated, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, continued to travel into the intersection against the red signal and was subsequently part of a crash with other cars in the junction”.

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

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an junction with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stopped for the entire time of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, 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 warnings of the technology's planned behaviour as the car was approaching a red light”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

In October 2024, the authority started an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four reported collisions in situations of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, fog or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in 2023, was fatal.

Company's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for use with a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to assume control at any moment. While these capabilities are engineered to become more capable, the presently active features do not render the vehicle autonomous.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with current implementations.