🔗 Share this article

American vehicle safety authorities have commenced an examination into Tesla cars featuring the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches after multiple accidents.

Regulatory Body Finds Traffic Law Breaches

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially requesting a recall of the cars if the authority concludes they present a danger to road safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The regulatory body reported it had received reports of nearly 3 million Tesla cars running red traffic lights and traveling against the wrong direction during lane switching while operating the system.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, using full self-driving activated, “came to an intersection with a red light, proceeded to travel into the intersection despite the red light and was later part of a collision with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

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

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 reports and one news account alleging that Tesla vehicles, driving through an intersection with FSD active, did not stay stationary for the duration of a red light, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and display the correct light status in the car's display”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “did not provide warnings of the system's intended behaviour as the vehicle was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

In October 2024, the agency started an investigation into over two million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four documented crashes in situations of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was fatal.

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 take over at any moment. While these features are designed to become more capable, the currently enabled functions do not render the vehicle self-driving.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals possible issues with current implementations.