California, USA – A shocking video has gone viral showing a woman apparently asleep at the wheel of her Tesla while the car continued driving itself on a busy California freeway at more than 50 miles per hour. The incident has reignited fierce debates over the safety of Tesla’s Autopilot system and the broader readiness of autonomous vehicle technology.
The Shocking Discovery on the Freeway
The video was captured by a mother and her son, Andres, as they were driving alongside the white Tesla. In the footage, the woman behind the wheel can be seen slouched, her eyes closed, appearing to be completely knocked out. Despite this, the car remained in motion, steadily cruising along the highway.
Andres recalled the disbelief of the moment:
“My mom kept saying, ‘Oh my gosh, oh my gosh.’ I looked over and I literally saw the girl sleeping, just barely holding the wheel. We were going around 55 miles per hour, and at one point the Tesla sped up, so we had to accelerate just to keep up and make sure we weren’t mistaken,” he explained.
Concerned for the safety of everyone on the road, Andres’ mother immediately called the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to report the situation. Authorities confirmed they received a 911 call about the drowsy Tesla driver, but by the time they arrived in the area, the vehicle could not be located.
Autopilot Under Growing Scrutiny
This alarming incident comes as Tesla faces mounting investigations and lawsuits regarding its Autopilot system. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is currently probing whether Tesla has misled consumers with claims that its cars can drive themselves.
Meanwhile, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is actively investigating more than a dozen crashes involving Teslas operating on Autopilot. In many of these cases, vehicles allegedly failed to respond properly to emergency scenes, colliding with stationary police or fire vehicles, reportedly confused by flashing lights.
Tesla, for its part, has not issued any public comment about the latest video. On its official website, however, the company repeatedly stresses that current Autopilot features still require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle fully autonomous.
Experts Warn Against Overreliance on Technology
Road safety experts have been quick to respond to the video, warning that incidents like this highlight a dangerous misconception among drivers—that Autopilot allows them to disengage entirely from the driving task.
“Fully autonomous driving is not yet a reality,” one transportation analyst explained. “What we have today are advanced driver-assistance systems. They can help reduce workload, but they cannot replace human awareness. If you’re using Autopilot, you still need to be alert, keep your eyes on the road, and your hands ready to take control.”
The expert added that falling asleep while relying on Autopilot not only endangers the driver but also every motorist sharing the highway.
A Broader Debate About the Future of Self-Driving Cars
The viral video underscores a growing concern: as technology advances, drivers may become overconfident, assuming that their cars are capable of much more than they truly are. Critics argue that Tesla’s branding of its “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving” features contributes to confusion, while supporters insist that with proper use, the technology can improve safety and reduce accidents.
Until regulators and manufacturers find common ground, and until technology matures to the point of true autonomy, experts agree on one crucial point: drivers must remain engaged, awake, and ready to act at any moment.
