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Cop Schools Tesla Driver on 'Full Self-Driving' Rules
10 Aug
Summary
- Tesla's FSD requires active driver supervision with eyes on the road.
- Drivers remain responsible for all traffic violations, even when FSD is active.
- A speeding Tesla driver in Colorado used autopilot as a defense unsuccessfully.
Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system does not render vehicles autonomous, with the company explicitly stating that active driver supervision is mandatory. The responsibility for the vehicle's safe operation, including adherence to speed limits, tolls, and traffic laws, always rests with the human driver, even when the feature is engaged. This means a driver is accountable for all actions the car takes.
This clarification is crucial, as demonstrated by a recent incident in Parker, Colorado. A Tesla driver was stopped for speeding and attempted to use the engagement of the autopilot as an excuse for their actions, claiming they were not the one driving. This defense proved ineffective when confronted by a police officer equipped with body camera footage. The officer swiftly settled the debate, reinforcing that the driver is legally responsible regardless of the advanced driver-assistance systems in use.
