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US automobile safety regulators have started an investigation into Tesla vehicles equipped with the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations following numerous accidents.

Safety Agency Finds Traffic Law Violations

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands motorists to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had “induced car behavior that violated road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the agency determines they pose a risk to public safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The regulatory body reported it had received accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla cars running red lights and moving in the incorrect way 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 intersection with a red light, continued to travel into the intersection despite the red light and was subsequently part of a collision with other cars in the intersection”.

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

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stopped for the entire time of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and display the proper traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

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

Ongoing Official Examination

The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year.

In October 2024, the authority began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or dust clouds. One such accident, in 2023, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates 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 moment. While these features are designed to become more capable, the presently active functions do not make the car self-driving.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals possible issues with current implementations.