Tesla Driver Caught Sleeping While On Autopilot Along California Freeway [Watch]

Yet another case where a Tesla electric vehicle (EV) sped safely on its way down a highway with its driver asleep at the wheel.

Talk about placing too much confidence in technology. In this case, the tech might either have been the standard Tesla Autopilot or the newer and more advanced Navigate on Autopilot feature introduced only in Nov. 2018. Whatever navigation tech was aboard that Tesla, it isn’t supposed to substitute for a fully awake driver behind the wheel of his EV.

A couple in Santa Clarita, California videoed a sleeping driver while his Tesla drove along California’s I-5 highway at speeds ranging from 70 to 75 mph. The couple passed the speeding Tesla on its driver’s side and took the video.

The couple said they saw the driver later wake-up and regain manual control of his EV. They said the Tesla stayed inside its lane the entire time its driver was snoozing. They didn’t report this violation to the police because they saw the driver eventually wake-up.

Tesla Inc. said its Tesla’s Autopilot feature doesn’t give drivers license to sleep or nap while at the wheel. It’s made perfectly clear to all owners they need to stay awake in case of an emergency.

“Autopilot is intended for use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any time,” said Tesla on its website.

In March 2019, in Los Angeles, a smartphone video (shown above) showed a driver asleep at the wheel with his Tesla on Autopilot on a busy Los Angeles freeway.

"I think this guy is passed out in his Tesla," said Seth Blake, who passed the Tesla on the passenger side. His fiancé shot the video.

Blake says the man seemed to sleep for about 10 minutes. He woke up once during that time, looked around, and went straight back to sleep.

Tesla refused to comment on the video, but again warned Autopilot is only intended for use with fully attentive drivers with their hands on the wheel.