California Highway Patrol Alerted After Tesla Driver Filmed Sleeping at the Wheel
A Tesla driver in California has been captured on camera apparently sleeping behind the wheel while the vehicle was in motion on a busy freeway. The incident, which occurred on the 10 Freeway in Colton, was recorded by a nearby motorist at approximately 3:30 PM on Sunday.
The footage, obtained by ABC 7, shows a white Tesla speeding past other vehicles on a sunny afternoon. The driver, who appeared to be a woman and was alone in the car, was seen slouched down in the seat with her head resting comfortably against the headrest, seemingly asleep as the car continued to drive.
Immediate Police Response and Failed Search
The witness who recorded the alarming scene immediately contacted the police. Officers from the California Highway Patrol were dispatched to the area in response to the report. However, despite their efforts, they were unable to locate the Tesla or the sleeping driver, according to the news outlet.
This is not an isolated case. A series of similar incidents involving Tesla drivers have been documented, where individuals have been caught taking naps while relying on the vehicle's autopilot features. Tesla's official website explicitly states that its autopilot system is designed to assist drivers but does not make the car fully autonomous. The company mandates that users must keep their hands on the steering wheel to maintain control at all times.
Previous Incidents Highlight Ongoing Safety Concerns
In a viral video from late last year, another person was filmed sleeping in the driver's seat of a red Tesla. The footage, posted on Reddit, depicted the driver cruising down a freeway around 2 PM on August 22. Notably, the sleeping driver appeared to have a neck pillow for added comfort, raising further safety alarms.
Online reactions to such videos have been strongly critical. One commenter remarked, 'Seriously. If this was only endangering the irresponsible driver, then, you know, congrats, Darwin Award. But endangering other people is not cool.' Another user, who claimed to work in the autonomous vehicle industry, stated, 'Should've honked at her. I’m in the autonomous vehicle industry and I would never feel comfortable sleeping in that.'
Two years earlier, in February 2023, another Tesla driver was spotted asleep on a California highway. This incident occurred on the 15 Freeway near Temecula around 4 PM. The person filming followed the vehicle for 15 minutes, honking and attempting to alert the driver, as reported by local station KTLA 5. The motorist eventually called 911 to report the dangerous situation.
In the video, a voice is heard exclaiming, 'Look at how dangerous that is. You guys I'm sorry that is too damn dangerous. Sleeping and this car is driving you. Are you nuts?' The Daily Mail has reached out to both the California Highway Patrol and Tesla for comment on these recurring incidents.
The repeated occurrences of drivers sleeping in Teslas underscore significant safety risks and misuse of advanced driver-assistance systems. As technology evolves, ensuring proper usage and adherence to safety protocols remains a critical challenge for both manufacturers and authorities.
