A driver who fell asleep on a U.S. highway with Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature engaged was caught by police. The vehicle was traveling at close to 100 kilometers per hour at the time.
Driver Sound Asleep at 60 MPH, Caught by Police
A Tesla was pulled over on a highway in Solano County, California, after traveling at 60 miles per hour (about 97 kph), according to the New York Post and the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
The problem was the driver's condition. Tesla's FSD feature was active, and the driver, wearing black sunglasses, appeared to be slumped in the driver's seat and asleep.
A motorcycle officer on patrol pulled alongside the moving vehicle to check on the driver before stopping the car. Police issued the driver a citation for driving at an unsafe speed.
The CHP later released video of the incident on its official social media account, noting that the safe speed when a driver is asleep is zero miles per hour. The agency added that naps belong in a parked car, not in the driver's seat, and urged motorists to stay awake, stay alert and arrive safely.
Similar Case in May: Repeat Incidents of Sleeping Behind FSD
This is not the first suspected case of a driver falling asleep with Tesla's driver-assistance features switched on.
In May, a Tesla Cybertruck driver was filmed appearing to doze off while driving on Highway 101 in Marin County, California. The CHP said at the time that even if a vehicle has special features such as Autopilot or Full Self-Driving, the driver remains responsible for the vehicle they are operating.
A more dangerous case occurred in March. Police in Vacaville, California, tracked a black Tesla after receiving a report around 11 a.m. that its driver appeared to be asleep. When officers reached the car, the driver was asleep in the front seat, and a pizza box and a pack of small wine bottles were found nearby. Police arrested the driver on suspicion of driving under the influence.
A similar incident has occurred in South Korea. In 2024, footage aired on the YouTube channel Han Moon-chul TV showed a Santa Fe traveling on a highway near the Chunhyang rest stop in Namwon, Jeonbuk State, with the driver asleep. The vehicle came to a stop only after striking the road curb.
Named 'Full Self-Driving,' but U.S. Police Say It Is No Substitute for a Driver
The CHP has repeatedly stressed that the name FSD should not be confused with the actual level of the technology.
The CHP said features such as Tesla's FSD are Level 2 driver-assistance systems that legally assist with driving but do not replace the driver. Tesla also advises FSD users to keep their attention on the road at all times and to be ready to take direct control of the vehicle immediately if needed.
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) classifies autonomous driving from Level 0 to Level 5. Level 2 is the stage at which the driver must continue monitoring the driving environment and remains responsible for the vehicle, even if it assists with acceleration, braking and steering.
That means the mere fact that FSD is engaged does not allow a driver to sleep or stop watching the road. In the May Cybertruck case, the CHP also said that a driver who falls asleep in the driver's seat is in violation of California's basic speed law, and stressed that naps should be taken after stopping the car.
