Yet another Tesla driver in British Columbia has been ticketed after allegedly being caught sleeping behind the wheel, making it at least the fourth such incident involving inattentive Tesla drivers in the province this year.
The previously unreported incident happened on August 11 shortly before 3:30 p.m. on Highway 1 near Mountain Highway in North Vancouver. According to B.C. Highway Patrol, two people travelling next to the Tesla Model Y spotted the driver who appeared to be asleep and contacted police, while also recording video of the Tesla from their vehicle.
Using the witness description and other evidence, police identified the registered owner and later located her at her home in Maple Ridge. Police say the 45-year-old woman matched the description of the driver seen in the video.
She was issued a $368 ticket for driving without due care and attention.
“Police will not debate the merits of self-driving technology with sleeping drivers. It’s illegal in B.C., and we’re here to enforce the law and keep roads safe,” B.C. Highway Patrol Sgt. Michael McLaughlin said.
While it may sound familiar, this North Vancouver incident is separate from several other cases involving Tesla drivers in B.C. this year.
In March, a Model Y driver was ticketed after an officer said she appeared to be asleep while travelling on Highway 1 in Coquitlam. In July, another driver was issued two tickets in West Kelowna after allegedly being spotted reading documents while driving a Model Y with Full Self-Driving (FSD) engaged.
Also in July, another video surfaced of a Tesla driver who appeared to be asleep while travelling on Highway 1 between Golden and Revelstoke. That incident prompted an RCMP investigation, although no updates have been provided on that case.
While very capable of doing 99% of most driving tasks, Tesla’s FSD is still Level 2 driver-assistance system, meaning drivers must remain attentive and ready to take control at all times.
“Driver inattention is a major factor in serious and deadly collisions. You must be completely focussed and alert when you’re behind the wheel of any motor vehicle in BC,” McLaughlin said.
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