A 20-year-old Canadian man has been charged with dangerous driving after police found him asleep at the wheel of a Tesla Model S travelling at 93mph (150km/h) on autopilot in Alberta.
Police received reports of the vehicle speeding on Highway 2 near Ponoka. Officers observed both front seats fully reclined, with the occupants apparently asleep. The car accelerated from 140km/h to 150km/h when police activated their emergency lights.
The driver, from British Columbia, had his licence suspended for 24 hours due to fatigue and was charged with speeding. He now faces a dangerous driving charge and is due in court in December.
RCMP Traffic Services Superintendent Gary Graham emphasised that such systems are supplemental safety aids, not fully autonomous, and drivers remain responsible for their vehicles. Tesla's website also states that autopilot does not make the car autonomous and requires drivers to remain attentive.
