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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an examination into Tesla cars featuring the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches after numerous accidents.

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Violations

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declared that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires drivers to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that violated traffic safety laws”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the vehicles if the authority concludes they present a danger to road safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The agency stated it had received reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red lights and traveling against the wrong way during lane changes while operating the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with full self-driving engaged, “came to an junction with a red traffic signal, continued to drive into the crossroads against the red light and was subsequently involved in a crash with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

The agency noted that four accidents had caused one or more injuries.

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 complaints and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and display the correct light status in the car's display”.

Several reporters also claimed that FSD “did not provide alerts of the technology's intended behaviour as the vehicle was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its Autopilot system, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year.

In October 2024, the authority started an investigation into over two million Tesla cars using FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was deadly.

Company's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is ready to take over at any time. While these capabilities are designed to improve over time, the currently enabled functions do not render the vehicle autonomous.”

Automated car systems continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.