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American vehicle safety authorities have started an investigation into Tesla cars equipped with the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations following numerous crashes.

Safety Agency Finds Traffic Law Breaches

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires drivers to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had caused vehicle behaviour that violated road safety regulations”.

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

Alarming Case Findings

The regulatory body stated it had received accounts of 2.88 million Tesla cars running red traffic lights and moving against the incorrect way during lane changes while operating the system.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with full self-driving engaged, “approached an junction with a red light, proceeded to drive into the intersection despite the red signal and was subsequently involved in a collision with other cars in the intersection”.

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

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 complaints and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles, driving through an junction with FSD active, did not stay stationary for the entire time of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the proper traffic signal state in the car's display”.

Several reporters also stated that FSD “did not provide alerts of the technology's intended actions as the vehicle was approaching a red light”.

Ongoing Official Examination

Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its Autopilot system, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year.

In late 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 Official Stance

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

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with current implementations.