🔗 Share this article

US automobile safety regulators have started an probe into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations following multiple crashes.

Regulatory Body Identifies Traffic Law Breaches

The federal safety agency declared that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires drivers to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before possibly seeking a withdrawal of the vehicles if the agency concludes they present a danger to road safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The regulatory body reported it had documented reports of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles running red lights and moving in the incorrect way during lane changes while using the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, using FSD activated, “came to an junction with a red traffic signal, continued to travel into the intersection against the red light and was subsequently involved in a crash with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

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

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 complaints and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD active, did not stay stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and display the proper traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

Several reporters also stated that FSD “failed to give warnings of the system's planned behaviour as the vehicle was approaching a red light”.

Ongoing Official Examination

Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for twelve months.

In October 2024, the authority started an inquiry into over two million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in 2023, was deadly.

Company's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for use with a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to take over at any moment. While these features are engineered to become more capable, the presently active features do not render the vehicle autonomous.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with current implementations.