by A video has surfaced online showing a woman, apparently behind the wheel of a Tesla Model Y, sleeping while driving on the Trans-Canada Highway between Golden and Revelstoke. The car’s speed was approximately 100 km/h. This incident raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of the driver monitoring system in Tesla vehicles.
Witness testimony and circumstances of the incident
Another Canadian driver, Carly King, noticed the sleeping driver on Sunday afternoon. In the video, the woman’s head is seen drooping, and she appears unaware that she is sleeping at the wheel. This is horrifying, although unfortunately, this is not the first such case.
According to King, what is shocking is that the woman was not alone in the car. It is reported that two children were in the back seats of the Tesla, whose lives were also put at risk due to the driver’s inattention.
How did the Tesla system manage to be deceived?
Presumably, the Tesla was equipped with the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) package, which includes a driver monitoring system. This system uses an interior camera to track eye movements and torque sensors on the steering wheel to determine if the driver is attentive. However, as practice shows, the camera can be easily fooled if wearing sunglasses, which this driver likely did.
Possible legal consequences
According to Corporal Michael McLaughlin of the British Columbia Highway Patrol, the driver could face serious charges due to her reckless behavior.
“This could be anything from a simple fine to a criminal charge of dangerous driving. Criminal charges of negligence are also possible if children were in the car who were exposed to risk because the driver was not in control of the situation while driving on the highway,” he stated.
This case once again highlights the danger of over-reliance on autonomous driving systems. Despite technologies constantly improving, they still require constant human supervision. Using cheap accessories to bypass safety systems or neglecting rules can lead to tragic consequences, especially when children are in the car. It is important to remember that the responsibility for road safety always lies with the driver, regardless of the level of vehicle automation.
