The Canadian driver is not the first to be caught sleeping behind the wheel of a Tesla
The Canadian driver is not the first to be caught sleeping behind the wheel of a Tesla(REUTERS)
A Canadian man has been charged with dangerous driving after being caught asleep at the wheel of a Tesla car on autopilot that was going at 150kmh (93mph).

Police in Alberta were called following reports of 2019 Tesla Model S speeding on a highway near the town of Ponoka.

Nobody could be seen in the front seats, which were both reclined, officers said.

Alberta Police said: "We received a complaint of a car speeding on Highway 2 near Ponoka. "The car appeared to be self-driving, travelling over 140 kmh with both front seats completely reclined and occupants appeared to be asleep.

"The driver received a dangerous driving charge and summons for court."

Although the car’s autopilot function is able to steer, accelerate and brake for the car, Tesla underlines on its website that this “does not make the vehicle autonomous”, and still requires motorists to pay attention, asking they keep their hands on the wheel.

The car sped up from 140kmh to 150kmh when the police turned on their emergency lights in pursuit.

The driver, aged 20 and from British Columbia, had his licence suspended for 24 hours for fatigue, as well as being charged with speeding.

He was later charged with dangerous driving and has had his court date set for December.

"Although manufacturers of new vehicles have built-in safeguards to prevent drivers from taking advantage of the new safety systems in vehicles, those systems are just that -supplemental safety systems," RCMP traffic services Superintendent Gary Graham said in a statement.

They are not self-driving systems, they still come with the responsibility of driving."

The 20-year-old is not the first motorist to fall asleep behind the wheel of a Tesla, with a similar incident taking place in California in August 2019.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/tesla-model-s-car-canada-alberta-dangerous-driving-b480486.html?utm_content=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1600441012

Hnnm
That moment when you're experimenting with your life like you have another one at home

Dats b problem with having these so called smart cars... Less activity during driving is bound to lead to sleeping behind d wheels

That's what happens when you need a car that drives itself.

Science in action, i pity ladies that are not in love with science inclined dudes. How u want take enjoy this life self

Imagine the car accelerating on its own after being pursued... technology is bae.