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

Regulatory Body Finds Traffic Law Breaches

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declared that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before potentially requesting a recall of the vehicles if the authority concludes they pose a risk to public safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The regulatory body stated it had received accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla cars driving through red traffic lights and moving in the incorrect way during lane switching while using the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, using FSD engaged, “approached an junction with a red traffic signal, proceeded to travel into the crossroads despite the red light and was subsequently part of a collision with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

The authority noted that four crashes had caused injuries to occupants.

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 reports and one news account alleging that Tesla vehicles, operating at an junction with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stopped for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the correct light status in the vehicle interface”.

Several reporters also stated that FSD “did not provide warnings of the technology's intended behaviour as the vehicle was coming to a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Official Examination

Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been being examined by NHTSA for twelve months.

In October 2024, the authority began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in 2023, was fatal.

Company's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for operation by a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is ready to take over at any time. While these features are engineered to become more capable, the presently active functions do not make the car autonomous.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals possible issues with current implementations.