Home / Technology / Driver Naps at 150 km/h in Self-Driving Tesla
Driver Naps at 150 km/h in Self-Driving Tesla
25 Aug
Summary
- Tesla owner charged after sleeping at 150 km/h in Alberta.
- Police observed occupants asleep as vehicle 'appeared to be self-driving'.
- Case highlights concerns over driver complacency with Autopilot.
A driver in Alberta, Canada, was charged with dangerous driving after police discovered him asleep in a Tesla Model S traveling at 150 km/h. Officers observed the vehicle with both occupants reclined and seemingly asleep while it maintained high speeds on Highway 2. The Tesla reportedly accelerated further when police initiated a pursuit.
The 21-year-old driver from British Columbia was initially cited for speeding and driving while fatigued, leading to a 24-hour license suspension. The subsequent dangerous driving charge underscores concerns about the misuse of partially automated driving systems like Tesla's Autopilot.
RCMP Superintendent Gary Graham emphasized that supplemental safety systems are not self-driving and drivers remain responsible. Tesla's Autopilot, a Level 2 system, requires constant driver engagement despite its features like adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist.
Historically, Autopilot has been implicated in fatal crashes, with CEO Elon Musk attributing them to driver overconfidence and complacency. Tesla's marketing of "Autopilot" has been criticized for potentially encouraging inattention, despite software updates designed to ensure drivers keep hands on the wheel.
