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US automobile safety regulators have started an examination into Tesla cars equipped with the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations after numerous collisions.

Safety Agency Finds Traffic Law Violations

The NHTSA declared that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that breached road safety regulations”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the first step before possibly requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the authority determines they pose a risk to road safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The regulatory body reported it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla cars running red traffic lights and moving against the incorrect direction during lane switching while operating the technology.

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

The agency reported that four accidents had resulted in injuries to occupants.

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 complaints and one media report claiming that Tesla vehicles, operating at an junction with FSD active, “failed to remain stationary for the entire time of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and display the proper light status in the vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “failed to give warnings of the system's intended behaviour as the vehicle was coming to a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for twelve months.

In October 2024, the authority started an inquiry into over two million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in situations of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in 2023, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for operation by a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any time. While these capabilities are designed to become more capable, the currently enabled features do not make the car autonomous.”

Automated car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.