We know Tesla cars are capable of driving themselves, but this story will show us how dangerous this could be… In Sweden, a driver fell asleep while his Tesla drove itself. I know, it’s crazy! Of course, the man ran into major trouble after putting a little too much trust in his car’s technology. He turned on the Autopilot, leaned back, and took a nap while the car kept cruising down the highway. What’s wild is that he stayed asleep for 40 kilometers — and had no idea the police were behind him the entire time.
It sounds unbelievable, but it really happened. And yes, it was just as dangerous as it sounds. So, let’s take a closer look at what went down, how it ended, and what we can all learn from it.
Another driver noticed something strange
It all started when the man was driving on the E4 highway, an important road in Sweden. Another motorist on the same road noticed something odd: a Tesla Model X was in the passing lane but wasn’t passing anyone. That seemed strange. So, he got a bit closer and realized that the driver was asleep. He was so deeply asleep that he didn’t even move. Seeing this, the other driver immediately called the police, knowing it could be very dangerous.
The police followed him for many kilometers
Meanwhile, the Tesla kept driving on Autopilot. By the time the police caught up with it, many kilometers had passed since they received the call. According to the Swedish newspaper Vi Bilägare, the car had already traveled about 26 kilometers from the moment the other driver alerted them, and it was already very close to a city called Linköping. But the Tesla still had enough battery to keep going, and that’s exactly what it did.
They tried to stop the Tesla car, but it wasn’t easy
The police tried to get the car to exit the highway, but they couldn’t do it immediately. They had to wait for the next exit, many kilometers later. The entire time, the driver remained asleep. Eventually, the man woke up, but just as he turned the steering wheel to the right, he did it so suddenly that a police car had to move quickly to avoid a crash. After that, the driver pulled into a gas station, and that’s how the 40-kilometer pursuit ended.
The driver admitted he was very tired
When the police spoke to him, the man explained that he hadn’t slept the night before, that he was stressed because he had to deliver the car, and that’s why he was so tired. At first, he tried to say he had kept one eye open the whole time, but later admitted that wasn’t true. He finally said:
“I’m very ashamed. It was due to exhaustion. I had a Tesla with autopilot, which made me feel very comfortable.”
What do we learn from all this?
What this man did is a great example of what you mustn’t do on the road. If your car has Autopilot, that doesn’t mean you can fall asleep while the car takes you somewhere. As for the driver, he was convicted of reckless driving because he put his life and others’ at risk.
Driver’s decision must be over technology
This story is a great example of what you shouldn’t do on the road. It doesn’t matter how technologically advanced your car is, they’re not a replacement for a fully awake and focused driver.
So, if you’re ever feeling too tired to drive, don’t just rely on autopilot to get you somewhere. Pull over, rest, or find another way. At the end of the day, it’s up to us — not the car — to make the right calls on the road. So, be careful while driving, for you and other drivers.