🔗 Share this article

American vehicle safety authorities have started an examination into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches after several crashes.

Safety Agency Identifies Safety Regulation Breaches

The NHTSA announced that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands motorists to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that breached road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the authority concludes they pose a risk to public safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The agency reported it had received accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla cars driving through red traffic lights and traveling against the incorrect direction during lane changes while operating the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla car, using FSD engaged, “came to an intersection with a red light, proceeded to drive into the intersection against the red signal and was subsequently part of a crash with other cars in the junction”.

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

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 reports and one news account alleging that Tesla cars, driving through an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stopped for the entire time of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and display the correct light status in the car's display”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “failed to give alerts of the technology's planned actions as the vehicle was coming to a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

In late 2024, the authority began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in 2023, was fatal.

Company's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for operation by a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to assume control at any time. While these capabilities are designed to become more capable, the currently enabled functions do not render the vehicle autonomous.”

Automated car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals possible issues with existing deployments.