Much has been made of Tesla’s “self-driving” feature, but the point that a LOT of Tesla drivers seem to miss is that you still actually have to drive your car; you still have to pay attention to the road.
This Tesla driver in California did not get that memo though, as a viral video shows her apparently asleep at the wheel of her Tesla as it’s screaming down the highway.
A woman named Kiki Dolas recorded video of the driver, as she and her partner were traveling home from Las Vegas.
Dolas told KTLA, “My partner was getting ready to change lanes and he was like, ‘I think she’s sleeping,’ and I said ‘Who?’ And I looked over immediately.
“As soon as I said that, the car actually sped off ahead of us. I just said, ‘Please hurry, please hurry.’”
Dolas and her partner followed the Tesla for about 15 minutes, honking and doing everything they could to try and get the driver’s attention.
“She had her sunglasses on. She was slouched down,” recalled Dolas.
“We started honking to try to get her attention because maybe she’s having a health emergency or something. I really wasn’t sure. So we couldn’t get her attention, the traffic is getting thicker and thicker so I said, ‘You know what? Let me call 911.’”
Tesla is currently facing multiple investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for issues with its autopilot and self-driving features, and despite what the functions’ names, Tesla still states on its website that the cars cannot fully drive themselves.
“It is illegal and motorists have to realize that they have to be awake, conscious and sober so they can take control of the vehicle,” explained Officer Mike Lassig of CHP Temecula.
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