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American vehicle safety authorities have started an probe into Tesla vehicles featuring the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations following numerous accidents.

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Violations

The NHTSA declared that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires drivers to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had caused car behavior that breached road safety regulations”.

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

Concerning Incident Reports

The agency stated it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red lights and moving against the incorrect way during lane switching while operating the system.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla car, using full self-driving activated, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, continued to drive into the crossroads against the red light and was later involved in a crash with other cars in the junction”.

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

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 reports and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an junction with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and show the proper traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

Several reporters also claimed that FSD “did not provide alerts of the technology's planned behaviour as the vehicle was coming to a red light”.

Continuing Official Examination

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

In late 2024, the agency began an investigation into over two million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was fatal.

Company's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for operation by a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to take over at any time. While these features are engineered to become more capable, the currently enabled functions do not make the vehicle self-driving.”

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