US government investigates Tesla over reports of Full Self-Driving traffic violations
The probe covers 2.9 million vehicles.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened another investigation into Tesla, this time over whether the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software is violating traffic laws.
Citing 58 reports of traffic safety violations, “including proceeding through red traffic signals and driving against the proper direction of travel on public roadways,” the NHTSA has started a so-called Preliminary Evaluation “to assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety consequences of FSD executing driving maneuvers that constitute traffic safety violations.” The probe covers the 2,882,566 vehicles in the US that are equipped with FSD.
Though sometimes advertised as autonomous — and indeed called “Full Self-Driving” — the software is meant to be supervised by a driver. Tesla operates ride-hailing services in both Austin and the Bay Area that employ versions of FSD with a safety attendant.
Last month, the NHTSA opened a separate probe into Tesla over reports that its door handles were trapping people inside the vehicles.
The stock is down more than 1% in premarket trading.
