🔗 Share this article

US automobile safety regulators have started an examination into Tesla cars featuring the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations following several collisions.

Regulatory Body Finds Traffic Law Violations

The federal safety agency stated that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to stay alert and intervene if needed, had “induced car behavior that violated road safety regulations”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before possibly seeking a recall of the cars if the authority concludes they present a danger to road safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The agency stated it had received reports of nearly 3 million Tesla cars running red lights and traveling against the incorrect direction during lane switching while operating the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD engaged, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, proceeded to travel into the intersection despite the red light and was later involved in a collision with other cars in the junction”.

The authority noted that four accidents had caused injuries to occupants.

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 reports and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an junction with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stopped for the entire time of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and show the proper traffic signal state 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 light”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

In late 2024, the authority began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars using FSD after four reported collisions in situations of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, fog or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in 2023, was fatal.

Company's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for operation by a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment. While these features are designed to improve over time, the presently active functions do not make the vehicle autonomous.”

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