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US automobile safety regulators have opened an probe into Tesla vehicles equipped with the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations following several accidents.

Safety Agency Identifies Traffic Law Violations

The federal safety agency declared that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had “induced car behavior that breached road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before possibly seeking a withdrawal of the cars if the authority determines they present a danger to road safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The regulatory body reported it had received accounts of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red lights and moving against the incorrect way during lane switching while operating the technology.

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

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

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 complaints and one news account claiming that Tesla vehicles, driving through an junction with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and show the proper traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

Several reporters also claimed that FSD “failed to give warnings of the system's intended behaviour as the car was approaching a red light”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

In late 2024, the agency began an investigation into over two million Tesla cars using 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 deadly.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for operation by a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to assume control at any time. While these features are engineered to become more capable, the presently active features do not render the vehicle self-driving.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals possible issues with existing deployments.