A Tesla driver was caught sleeping while going 60mph down a California highway.
‘FSD Means Full Self-Driving – not ‘Full Drive Snooze,’ California Highway Patrol wrote in an Instagram post criticizing the dozy driver.
A video posted by CHP Solano showed the driver slumped over in the driver’s seat of his Tesla, with dark sunglasses covering his eyes as the car’s automatic driving feature took over for him.
Shortly after, the driver was pulled over and issued a citation for ‘Unsafe Speed,’ according to the CHP.
The agency used this incident to remind Tesla drivers of the laws governing their vehicles: ‘Features like Tesla’s FSD are Level 2 driver assistance tools. By law, they assist your driving—they do not replace you.’
Sleeping at the wheel is still illegal in a self-driving car, the agency wrote.
‘You are still the legal driver, and taking a nap while in motion violates California traffic safety laws.
‘Power naps belong in a parking spot, not in the driver’s seat. Drive awake, stay alert and arrive alive.’
The driver’s identity was not released by the CHP.
A video shared by California Highway Patrol showed a Tesla driver slumped over and asleep while driving down a highway to get home from work
California Highway Patrol issued a citation for ‘Unsafe Speed’ to a driver who had fallen asleep while going 60mph down a highway, relying on the Full Self-Driving function on his Tesla
Tesla and California have been embroiled in a legal back and forth over the car company’s self driving feature.
In February of this year, Tesla sued the state after the California DMV found them to be in violation of state law for misleadingly using the term ‘autopilot’ in their marketing.
The California DMV requested that Tesla omit the word ‘autopilot’ to avoid giving drivers the impression that their full presence is not required at the wheel, or else its dealer and manufacturer licenses will be suspended by the DMV for 30 days, the press release stated.
Tesla agreed to erase the word from their advertising, successfully swerving the suspensions, but retaliated by suing the California DMV in an attempt to reverse the ‘false advertising’ ruling, CNBC reported.
Following the legal battle, Tesla now uses the term ‘Full Self-Driving (Supervised)‘ instead of ‘Full Self-Driving Capability’ to reflect the legal circumstances of the driver more accurately.
July 2026, Tesla logged 236 crash reports to federal regulators, the highest number it has ever reported in a single month, according to Electrek.
Four of the crashes were deadly, and all four happened while Full Self-Driving was on, according to Tesla’s July filings seen by Electrek. Half of these took place in California.
