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US automobile safety regulators have started an probe into Tesla cars featuring the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations after numerous collisions.

Safety Agency Finds Traffic Law Breaches

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declared that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that violated traffic safety laws”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially seeking a recall of the vehicles if the authority concludes they pose a risk to public safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The regulatory body stated it had received reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red lights and moving against the incorrect way during lane changes while operating the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with FSD activated, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, proceeded to drive into the crossroads despite the red signal and was subsequently involved in a collision with other cars in the junction”.

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

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 complaints and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD active, “failed to remain stationary for the entire time of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and display the correct light status in the car's display”.

Several reporters also stated that FSD “failed to give alerts of the technology's planned actions as the car was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its Autopilot system, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.

In October 2024, the agency started an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars using FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or dust clouds. One such accident, in last year, was fatal.

Company's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for operation by a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to take over at any time. While these features are engineered to become more capable, the currently enabled features do not make the car autonomous.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.