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American vehicle safety authorities have commenced an probe into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations after numerous crashes.

Regulatory Body Identifies Traffic Law Breaches

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires drivers to stay alert and intervene if needed, had caused car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before possibly seeking a recall of the vehicles if the authority determines they pose a risk to public safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The agency stated it had received accounts of 2.88 million Tesla cars running red lights and moving against the incorrect way during lane switching while using the technology.

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 crossroads against the red light and was later part of a collision with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

The agency reported that four crashes had caused injuries to occupants.

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 reports and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles, operating at an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stopped for the duration of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and display the correct light status in the car's display”.

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

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year.

In late 2024, the authority started an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for use with a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to assume control at any time. While these features are engineered to become more capable, the presently active features do not render the vehicle self-driving.”

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