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US automobile safety regulators have opened an examination into Tesla cars featuring the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches after multiple crashes.

Regulatory Body Identifies Safety Regulation Violations

The NHTSA declared that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires motorists to stay alert and intervene if needed, had “induced car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially seeking a recall of the cars if the authority determines they present a danger to public safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The agency reported it had documented accounts of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red lights and traveling against the incorrect way during lane switching while operating the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, using FSD engaged, “approached an intersection with a red traffic signal, continued to travel into the crossroads despite the red light and was subsequently involved in a crash with other cars in the junction”.

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

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 complaints and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stopped for the duration of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and display the correct light status in the car's display”.

Several reporters also stated that FSD “failed to give warnings of the system's planned actions as the vehicle was approaching a red light”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.

In late 2024, the authority began an investigation into over two million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in 2023, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

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

Automated car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.