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US automobile safety regulators have opened an probe into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches following several crashes.

Regulatory Body Identifies Traffic Law Violations

The NHTSA announced that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands drivers to stay alert and intervene if needed, had caused car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the vehicles if the agency concludes they present a danger to public safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The agency reported it had received reports of nearly 3 million Tesla cars driving through red lights and traveling against the incorrect way during lane switching while operating the system.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla car, using FSD activated, “approached an junction with a red light, continued to drive into the intersection against the red signal and was later part of a collision with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

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

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 reports and one media report alleging that Tesla cars, operating at an junction 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 show the proper traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

Several reporters also claimed that FSD “did not provide alerts of the system's planned actions as the car was coming to a red light”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.

In October 2024, the authority began an inquiry into over two million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in situations of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist or airborne dust. 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 driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to assume control at any time. While these features are designed to improve over time, the currently enabled features do not render the car autonomous.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with current implementations.