Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Under Investigation for Traffic Violations

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has initiated a formal investigation into approximately 2.8 million Tesla vehicles equipped with the company’s Full Self-Driving technology. This probe, first detailed by Reuters, will scrutinize reported traffic violations linked to the FSD system, such as running red lights and traveling in the wrong direction on roadways.

NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation is currently examining 58 separate safety incidents tied to the autonomous driving feature. These documented cases include 14 collisions and 23 reported injuries. Investigators noted specific examples where Tesla vehicles failed to come to a complete stop at red traffic signals while FSD was active. Other incidents involved cars improperly entering opposing lanes during turns or attempting to drive the wrong way on clearly marked one-way streets.

While the primary focus remains on red light and wrong-way driving infractions, federal authorities will also evaluate how the system behaves at railroad crossings. A recent NBC report brought attention to this concern, documenting multiple situations where Teslas using Full Self-Driving failed to halt at railway intersections despite approaching trains.

This regulatory scrutiny arrives at a challenging moment for Tesla as the company actively seeks approval from municipal authorities for its proposed robotaxi network. Tesla currently operates a limited ride-hailing service with human safety monitors present in vehicles throughout San Francisco and Austin. Company CEO Elon Musk has publicly stated ambitions to expand this service to cover half of the United States before year’s end, making the timing of this safety investigation particularly significant for the automaker’s future plans.

(Source: The Verge)