🔗 Share this article

US automobile safety regulators have opened an probe into Tesla cars featuring the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations after multiple accidents.

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had caused car behavior that breached road safety regulations”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before possibly requesting a withdrawal of the vehicles if the agency determines they present a danger to public safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The agency stated it had received accounts of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and traveling against the wrong way during lane changes while using the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, using FSD activated, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, proceeded to travel into the intersection despite the red light and was subsequently part of a collision with other cars in the junction”.

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

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 complaints and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an intersection with FSD active, did not stay stationary for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect 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 planned behaviour as the car was approaching a red light”.

Ongoing Official Examination

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

In late 2024, the authority began an inquiry into over two million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One such accident, in last year, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for operation by a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is ready to assume control at any moment. While these capabilities are engineered to improve over time, the presently active functions do not make the vehicle self-driving.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.