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American vehicle safety authorities have commenced an examination into Tesla vehicles featuring the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations after multiple crashes.

Safety Agency Identifies Traffic Law Violations

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had “induced car behavior that breached road safety regulations”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially seeking a withdrawal of the vehicles if the agency determines they present a danger to road safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The agency reported it had received reports of 2.88 million Tesla cars driving through 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 car, operating with full self-driving activated, “approached an junction with a red traffic signal, proceeded to travel into the crossroads against the red light and was subsequently part of a crash with other cars in the intersection”.

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

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 complaints and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles, operating at an junction with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stopped for the duration of a red light, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and display the proper light status in the vehicle interface”.

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

Continuing Official Examination

The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been under investigation by NHTSA for twelve months.

In late 2024, the agency began an inquiry into over two million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in situations 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 completely alert driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is ready to assume control at any moment. While these capabilities are designed to improve over time, the currently enabled features do not render the vehicle self-driving.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals possible issues with existing deployments.