🔗 Share this article

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

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to stay alert and intervene if needed, had “induced vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before potentially requesting a recall of the vehicles if the agency determines they pose a risk to road safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The regulatory body reported it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and moving against the wrong direction during lane changes while using the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, using FSD engaged, “came to an intersection with a red light, continued to travel into the intersection despite the red light and was subsequently involved in a collision with other cars in the junction”.

The authority noted that four crashes had resulted in one or more injuries.

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 complaints and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD engaged, did not stay stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the correct light status in the car's display”.

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

Continuing Official Examination

The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year.

In late 2024, the authority began an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla cars using FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist or dust clouds. One such accident, in 2023, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for operation by 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 features do not render the vehicle self-driving.”

Automated car systems continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with current implementations.