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American vehicle safety authorities have started an examination into Tesla cars featuring the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations after several collisions.

Regulatory Body Finds Traffic Law Violations

The federal safety agency stated that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to stay alert and intervene if needed, had caused vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially requesting a recall of the cars if the agency concludes they present a danger to public safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The regulatory body reported it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla cars driving through red lights and moving in the incorrect way during lane changes while operating the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, using FSD engaged, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, proceeded to drive into the intersection despite the red signal and was subsequently involved in a crash with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

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

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 complaints and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles, operating at an intersection with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and display the correct light status in the car's display”.

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

Ongoing Official Examination

Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year.

In late 2024, the agency started 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 fatal.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for operation by a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to take over at any time. While these features are designed to improve over time, the currently enabled features do not render the car autonomous.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals possible issues with existing deployments.