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US automobile safety regulators have started an probe into Tesla cars equipped with the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches after several crashes.

Regulatory Body Identifies Traffic Law Violations

The federal safety agency announced that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands drivers to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had caused car behavior that breached road safety regulations”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the agency determines they present a danger to public safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The agency reported it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red traffic lights and traveling in the incorrect direction during lane switching while operating the system.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, using full self-driving activated, “approached an junction with a red traffic signal, proceeded to drive into the intersection despite the red signal and was later involved in a crash with other cars in the junction”.

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

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 complaints and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles, operating at an junction with FSD active, “failed to remain stopped for the entire time of a red light, did not come to complete stop, 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 technology's planned actions as the vehicle was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for twelve months.

In late 2024, the authority started an investigation into over two million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in 2023, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for operation by a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to assume control at any moment. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the presently active functions do not render the vehicle self-driving.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with current implementations.