So much for autopilot.
A 22-year-old man from Sacramento, who claimed he was asleep with the Full Self-Driving feature activated in his Tesla, crashed into a California Highway Patrol (CHP) cruiser at high speed, leaving two officers seriously injured who were already attending to a previous accident.
This incident took place on October 13 on eastbound Interstate 80, near Air Base Parkway. The officers were investigating a deadly crash when the Tesla veered into the closed off area and collided with their patrol vehicle, according to CHP’s Solano office.
It wasn’t a remote section of highway either. The lanes were clearly marked with flares and cones, and the scene was illuminated by emergency vehicle lights. While the Tesla driver sustained only minor injuries, the two officers have faced more serious health issues.
CHP emphasized to a news outlet that Tesla’s advanced driving features can’t replace the attention of a human driver. They stated, “The driver claimed he was asleep and that the vehicle was operating in Tesla’s Full Self-Driving mode at the time of the crash. However, despite its name, Full Self-Driving is not fully autonomous. It is an SAE Level 2 driver assistance system that requires ongoing driver supervision.”
In essence, just because it’s called Full Self-Driving doesn’t mean drivers can doze off while cruising.
This accident also raises some concerns about potential legal repercussions for the driver. California laws cover reckless driving and unsafe speeds, but authorities have not clarified if the driver will face any specific charges at this time.
The investigation is still underway.
