🔗 Share this article

US automobile safety regulators have opened an examination into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches after numerous collisions.

Regulatory Body Identifies Safety Regulation Violations

The NHTSA stated that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused vehicle behaviour that violated traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA marks the first step before possibly seeking a recall of the cars if the authority determines they pose a risk to road safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The regulatory body stated it had documented accounts of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and moving in the incorrect direction during lane switching while operating the system.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with full self-driving activated, “approached an junction with a red light, proceeded to travel into the intersection despite the red signal and was subsequently part of a crash with other cars in the intersection”.

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

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 reports and one news account alleging that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD active, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red light, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and show the proper light status in the car's display”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “failed to give warnings of the system's intended behaviour as the car was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

In October 2024, the agency started an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in situations of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in 2023, was fatal.

Company's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for use with a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is ready to assume control at any moment. While these features are designed to become more capable, the presently active functions do not make the vehicle autonomous.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals possible issues with existing deployments.