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American vehicle safety authorities have started an examination into Tesla cars featuring the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations following multiple collisions.

Regulatory Body Identifies Traffic Law Violations

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires drivers to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that breached road safety regulations”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before potentially seeking a recall of the vehicles if the agency determines they present a danger to public safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The agency stated it had documented reports of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles running red traffic lights and traveling against the incorrect direction during lane switching while using the system.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, using full self-driving activated, “approached an junction with a red light, proceeded to drive into the intersection despite the red light and was subsequently part of a crash with other cars in the junction”.

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

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 reports and one news account alleging that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD engaged, did not stay stopped for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and display the correct light status in the vehicle interface”.

Several reporters also claimed that FSD “did not provide warnings of the technology's planned actions as the car was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

In October 2024, the authority began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or dust clouds. One such accident, in 2023, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for use with a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is ready to take over at any time. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the currently enabled features do not render the vehicle autonomous.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals possible issues with current implementations.