US Lawmaker Demands Action on Tesla Autopilot Misuse, Citing Videos of Sleeping Drivers

A U.S. lawmaker is calling on federal auto safety regulators to take action against the misuse of Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) systems. The call comes in response to numerous online videos appearing to show drivers asleep or disengaged while their vehicles are in motion.

Lawmaker Cites 'Foreseeable Misuse'

In a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) highlighted an NBC News report that identified 43 videos of individuals seemingly asleep in moving Teslas, including 17 posted this year.

Krishnamoorthi stated that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) "must ensure that manufacturers have adequate safeguards to prevent foreseeable misuse." He questioned whether NHTSA has evaluated the effectiveness of Tesla's driver-monitoring systems when the cabin camera is obstructed or when drivers wear hats or sunglasses.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

This letter adds to the significant regulatory pressure on Tesla's driver-assistance technology. The automaker has consistently stated that both Autopilot and FSD require a fully attentive driver with their hands on the wheel.

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Key points of existing regulatory oversight include:

• A 2023 recall of approximately 2 million Tesla vehicles in the U.S. to install new safeguards intended to ensure drivers remain engaged when using Autopilot.
• An ongoing NHTSA investigation into 2.9 million Tesla vehicles over reports of traffic safety violations while using FSD.
• A separate, escalated NHTSA probe into 3.2 million Teslas equipped with FSD, focusing on potential system failures in poor visibility conditions.

Tesla's Driver-Assist Technology

Tesla's Autopilot system enables the vehicle to steer, accelerate, and brake within its lane. The more advanced Full Self-Driving system is designed to obey traffic signals and execute lane changes. Despite the names, neither system makes the vehicle fully autonomous.

The repeated instances of apparent driver inattention raise questions for investors and regulators about the effectiveness of current safeguards and the marketing of the technology's capabilities.