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“Self-driving” vehicles are getting more and more popular in California and throughout the country, but how autonomous are they? Tesla vehicles were one of the first vehicles to offer autonomous and semi-autonomous driving options. These so-called “autopilot” features aren’t necessarily a completely hands-off feature though. We’ve seen crash after crash over the years where driver inattention in a so-called “self-driving” car leads to a crash. Recently, there has even been footage of drivers apparently asleep at the wheel in Teslas.  

Drivers Asleep at The Wheel in Tesla Vehicles  

According to KTLA News Channel Five, in the past few weeks, there has been video footage of at least two Tesla drivers asleep behind the wheel, and there was also another driver in 2019 that appeared to be sleeping while driving. Unfortunately, the self-driving features still require that a driver be at the wheel and attentive at all times. This means drivers should not be sleeping, texting, reading or engaging in any other distractions.  

Drivers Need to be Ready to Take Control of Vehicle  

In the event of an emergency, the driver needs to be able to take control of the vehicle immediately. Over the years, we’ve seen Teslas’ autonomous features malfunction and lead to injury-causing and fatal wrecks. At this time, there is no vehicle on the market that is 100-percent driverless. If your vehicle has autonomous or semi-autonomous technology, remember that you still need to be attentive to the road and your surroundings.  

Drivers Asleep at Wheel in Tesla Vehicles Will Face Charges  

Technology, especially brand new technology is known for failing sometimes. There are always bugs and glitches in new tech. Don’t put your life at stake or the lives of others by taking a nap behind the wheel or failing to be ready to take control of your vehicle. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), any driver caught asleep at the wheel of a “self-driving” vehicle will be facing charges.  

If you have been injured or if you have lost a loved one in a car accident involving a Tesla in San Diego or anywhere in Southern California, contact the skilled and proven team at Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, Inc. at 1.800.GO.HARRIS for a free case consultation today.