Many on social media were stunned after a Tesla driver was caught sleeping on autopilot, raising safety concerns for other vehicles on the highway.
A Tesla driver was filmed sleeping behind the wheel while cruising down a Las Vegas highway.
This sparked concerns about the safety of the company’s Autopilot feature.
This incident is one of many raising questions about Tesla’s self-driving technology and its reliance on driver attention.
Tesla driver was captured sleeping in Las Vegas
In a video shared on Jalopnik, a man was caught sleeping behind the wheel of his Tesla Model X.
In the footage, the vehicle was seen in motion on a Las Vegas highway while the driver is sleeping soundly.
The man was captured resting with his head on the seat’s headrest, hands completely off the steering wheel.
It remained unclear if authorities intervened or pulled the driver over.
Tesla’s Autopilot features: convenience and controversy
Tesla’s Autopilot feature has gained attention for offering advanced self-driving capabilities.
According to Tesla’s website, the company equips every vehicle with the hardware required for full self-driving.
The Enhanced Autopilot package, priced at $5,000, claims to manage speed, maintain lanes, change lanes, and transition between freeways without driver input.
The Full Self-Driving package is available for an additional $3,000.
It enables vehicles to drive autonomously, park themselves, and even be summoned remotely.
Safety issues with Tesla’s self-driving features
While these features are impressive, they don’t guarantee driver safety.
Tesla drivers are still required to remain alert and ready to take control.
Several crashes have been reported involving Tesla vehicles with Autopilot engaged.
As more incidents surface, like the one in Las Vegas, scrutiny on Tesla’s self-driving technology continues to grow.
Previously, other Tesla driver was caught on camera
InLas Vegas incident, another Tesla driver was filmed sleeping behind the wheel on Interstate 5 in California.
A video shared by KTLA showed a woman in a red Tesla sedan taking a nap while driving in the fast lane.
In another viral video, shared by Kiki Dolas captured a woman on Interstate 15, head slumped to the side, with her Tesla driving autonomously.
Dolas spent 15 minutes honking to wake the driver before contacting 911.
These incidents showed the potential dangers of over-reliance on Autopilot.
Additionally, The driver became complacent, assuming the car will handle all driving responsibilities.
Despite the system’s capabilities, Tesla emphasizes that its vehicles are not fully autonomous and require active driver supervision.
Investigation launched after driver used Autopilot.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched multiple investigations into Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features.
These investigations followed accidents linked to the technology.
The U.S. Department of Justice requested documents from Tesla last month, seeking more information on the self-driving and Autopilot systems.
While, Tesla’s website explicitly warns that its cars cannot drive themselves.
However, concerns continue to rise as drivers seem to treat Autopilot as a replacement for active driving.