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American vehicle safety authorities have started an probe into Tesla vehicles featuring the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations following multiple collisions.

Safety Agency Identifies Traffic Law Violations

The NHTSA 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 violated road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before possibly requesting a recall of the cars if the authority determines they present a danger to public safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The agency reported it had received accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla cars driving through red lights and moving in the wrong direction during lane changes while using the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD activated, “approached an intersection 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 junction”.

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

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 reports and one news account alleging that Tesla vehicles, operating at an intersection with FSD engaged, did not stay stationary for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the correct traffic signal state in the car's display”.

Several reporters also claimed that FSD “did not provide warnings of the technology's intended actions as the vehicle was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

In late 2024, the agency began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for use with a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to assume control at any time. While these capabilities are designed to become more capable, the currently enabled features 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 potential challenges with current implementations.