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US automobile safety regulators have opened an investigation into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations after several accidents.

Safety Agency Finds Traffic Law Violations

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declared that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires motorists to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had “induced car behavior that breached road safety regulations”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially seeking a recall 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 nearly 3 million Tesla cars driving through red traffic lights and traveling against the incorrect direction during lane changes while using the system.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with full self-driving activated, “approached an intersection with a red light, continued to drive into the intersection against the red signal and was subsequently part of a collision with other cars in the intersection”.

The authority noted that four crashes had caused one or more injuries.

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 complaints and one news account alleging that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD active, did not stay stopped for the duration of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and display the proper light status in the car's display”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “failed to give warnings of the technology's planned behaviour as the vehicle was coming to a red light”.

Ongoing Official Examination

The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year.

In October 2024, the agency began an inquiry into over two million Tesla cars using FSD after four documented crashes in situations of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist or dust clouds. One such accident, in 2023, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

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

Automated vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals possible issues with existing deployments.