Sleeping at the Wheel? Tesla Driver Caught Napping at 62 MPH with Kids in Back

A disturbing video making the rounds online appears to show a woman sleeping behind the wheel of a Tesla Model Y as it cruises along the Trans-Canada Highway between Golden and Revelstoke. The footage, captured by another driver, shows the woman with her head slumped over, seemingly completely unaware that she’s traveling at about 62 miles per hour.

If real, it raises serious questions about how easily the car’s safety systems can be tricked.

The woman was spotted Sunday afternoon by fellow motorist Carleigh King. King told CBC that the driver wasn’t alone, two children were reportedly sitting in the back seats. The Tesla was likely using the company’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) package, which relies on an in-car camera and steering wheel sensors to monitor the driver’s attention.

But experts say sunglasses can fool the camera, and cheap aftermarket gadgets are available to bypass the torque sensors entirely.

British Columbia Highway Patrol Cpl. Michael McLaughlin warned that the driver could face serious consequences. “Anything from a simple violation ticket up to criminal charges for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle,” he said. ” The incident is a stark reminder that no matter how advanced the technology, the person behind the wheel is still responsible.