🔗 Share this article

American vehicle safety authorities have started an examination into Tesla cars featuring the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches following numerous crashes.

Regulatory Body Identifies Safety Regulation Violations

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declared that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had “induced car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially requesting a recall of the cars if the agency concludes they present a danger to public safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The regulatory body stated it had documented accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles running red traffic lights and traveling against the wrong way during lane changes while operating the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla car, using full self-driving engaged, “approached an junction with a red traffic signal, proceeded to travel into the crossroads against 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.

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 reports and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles, operating at an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stationary for the entire time of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and show the proper light status in the vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “did not provide warnings of the technology's intended actions as the car was coming to a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Official Examination

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

In October 2024, the agency began an inquiry into over two million Tesla vehicles using 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.

Company's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for operation by a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to assume control at any time. While these features are engineered to become more capable, the presently active functions do not render the vehicle autonomous.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals possible issues with existing deployments.