Tesla driver banned for 18 months after falling asleep with autopilot engaged

The autopilot feature on Tesla’s vehicles has always been a bone of contention for authorities. Now, a British driver has been banned from the roads after he was caught asleep on the passenger seat with his Tesla S 60 on autopilot mode. He has pled guilty to dangerous driving.

The Hertfordshire Police reported that the car was set to drive at 40 miles per hour and Patel left the wheels and controls unattended.

Herts Police

According to reports, he was spotted sleeping by another driver on the road and was reported to the authorities. His name is Bhavesh Patel.

Patel apparently committed the indiscretion on May 21, 2017. The Hertfordshire Police reported that the car was set to drive at 40 miles per hour and Patel left the wheels and controls unattended, even though there was heavy traffic on the road at the time.

He has now been banned from driving for the next 18 months and will be required to pay a £1800 fine. There’s also a 10-day rehabilitation period and he will have to perform 100 hours of community service. The police called Patel’s actions “grossly irresponsible” and said that he could have caused someone’s death, including his own.

And they are right since Tesla itself admits that the autopilot feature is not completely ready yet. The company has been improving it, but there’s still work to be done.