B.C. RCMP reminds Tesla owners not to push limits with automation feature

SURREY (NEWS 1130) — B.C. Mounties are reminding Tesla owners not to test the autonomous driving feature on our roads.

On Thursday, the RCMP said they had charged a man from B.C. with dangerous driving after an officer pulled over a speeding Tesla on a central Alberta highway that appeared to be driving itself in July.

According to the RCMP, the car appeared to be travelling over 140 km/h and both front seats were completely reclined and two people in the car appeared to be sleeping.

"…but if they're caught napping behind the wheel, it's drive without due care at a very minimum, and as high up as a criminal charge for dangerous driving." #bctransportation

— Ria Renouf ???? (@riarenouf) September 18, 2020

Cpl. Mike Halskov, with BC RCMP’s traffic services, says if you’re thinking of doing the same and testing out the autopilot system in your Tesla, please think again.

“I don’t think anyone should rely 100 per cent on any automated systems that are equipped with some vehicle. They’re not foolproof. And that is why steering wheels are still in vehicles, even the ones with automated systems in it because there does need to be the human component,” he says.

In the case of the Tesla in Alberta, a 20-year-old is accused of speeding and dangerous driving and has a court date in October.

RELATED: Sleeping driver of speeding Tesla on Alberta highway faces criminal charge: RCMP

While each traffic stop is different, Halskov says there are penalties under our Motor Vehicle Act you could face in B.C.

“If somebody is testing their automated systems and they’re taking liberty with the Motor Vehicle Act … [by] excessive speed or whatever the case may be, certainly those tickets would apply,” he says.

I spoke w/Cpl. Mike Halskov who says as far as he knows, no one has been ticketed for a similar offence involving autonomous driving. He's hoping it stays that way.

— Ria Renouf ???? (@riarenouf) September 18, 2020

So for Tesla owners thinking of testing the feature, Halskov adds “You’re putting yourself and your passengers and the motoring public in harm’s way by doing so, and the outcome can be tragic for you and or other people, and obviously we don’t want that to happen.”

“So don’t rely 100 per cent on your automated systems in your car if you do have them. There does need to be driver input and the driver does need to be paying attention to what’s happening and have their hands on the wheel and providing some input where it may be required.”