🔗 Share this article

American vehicle safety authorities have started an investigation into Tesla cars featuring the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches following multiple collisions.

Regulatory Body Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

The federal safety agency stated that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires drivers to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that breached traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA represents the first step before possibly seeking a withdrawal of the vehicles if the agency concludes they pose a risk to public safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The agency reported it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla cars running red lights and moving in the incorrect direction during lane switching while operating the system.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with full self-driving engaged, “approached an intersection with a red light, proceeded to drive into the intersection against the red signal and was later part of a collision with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

The agency reported that four accidents had resulted in injuries to occupants.

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 complaints and one media report claiming that Tesla vehicles, driving through an intersection with FSD active, did not stay stopped for the duration of a red light, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and display the proper light status in the car's display”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “did not provide warnings of the technology's intended actions as the car was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Official Examination

The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for twelve months.

In late 2024, the authority started an investigation into over two million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or dust clouds. One such accident, in 2023, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

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 ready to take over at any moment. While these capabilities are engineered to improve over time, the currently enabled functions do not make the vehicle self-driving.”

Automated car systems continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals possible issues with current implementations.