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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an probe into Tesla vehicles featuring the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches following multiple accidents.

Safety Agency Finds Traffic Law Violations

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

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

Concerning Incident Reports

The agency reported it had received reports of 2.88 million Tesla cars driving through red traffic lights and traveling against the wrong way during lane switching while operating the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD activated, “approached an junction with a red light, proceeded to drive into the intersection despite the red light and was later part of a crash with other cars in the intersection”.

The authority noted that four crashes had resulted in injuries to occupants.

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 reports and one news account alleging that Tesla cars, driving through 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 proper traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “did not provide alerts of the system's planned behaviour as the car was approaching a red traffic signal”.

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 late 2024, the agency began an inquiry into over two million Tesla cars using FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or dust clouds. One such accident, in 2023, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for operation by a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment. While these capabilities are engineered to improve over time, the currently enabled functions do not render the vehicle autonomous.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.