A U.S. lawmaker is calling on federal regulators to take a closer look at Tesla’s driver monitoring safeguards following a growing number of videos showing drivers apparently asleep behind the wheel while using Autopilot or Full Self-Driving (FSD).
Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois, sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy this week asking what the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is doing to address potential misuse of Tesla’s driver-assistance systems.
The letter follows an NBC News investigation that identified 43 videos appearing to show people asleep behind the wheel of moving Teslas, including 17 posted this year.
Krishnamoorthi argues regulators need to determine whether Tesla has sufficient safeguards against foreseeable misuse.
“FSD requires continuous human supervision, yet the message appears to encourage use of the system precisely when the vehicle has detected that the driver may be less capable,” Krishnamoorthi wrote, referring to Tesla’s “Drowsiness detected. Stay focused with FSD” message.
Similar incidents piling up in B.C.
While Krishnamoorthi’s concerns are directed at U.S. regulators, Canada has seen its own string of incidents, particularly in British Columbia.
At least five separate cases involving allegedly sleeping or significantly distracted Tesla drivers have surfaced in B.C. this year.
In March, police ticketed a Model Y driver who allegedly appeared asleep on Highway 1 in Coquitlam. In July, another driver was ticketed after police spotted them reading documents while using FSD in West Kelowna. That same month, video emerged of a Tesla driver apparently asleep while travelling between Golden and Revelstoke.
Two more incidents were revealed earlier this month. A Maple Ridge woman received a $368 ticket after witnesses allegedly recorded her sleeping behind the wheel on Highway 1 in North Vancouver, while another Tesla driver was ticketed after a B.C. Highway Patrol officer allegedly found him asleep during morning rush hour in Langley.
Krishnamoorthi has asked NHTSA to explain whether it considers the growing collection of sleeping-driver videos evidence of a broader safety problem and how effective Tesla’s driver-monitoring safeguards are at preventing misuse.
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