A video appearing to show a woman asleep at the wheel of a Tesla while travelling on Highway 1 between Golden and Revelstoke has sparked an RCMP investigation and renewed questions about the limits of driver-assistance technology on B.C. roads.
The video was reportedly taken on Sunday, July 5, by Carleigh King, who was travelling with her family from Alberta to B.C. when they encountered the vehicle on the Trans-Canada Highway.
King told media outlets her family had pulled over because one of her children was feeling carsick. After getting back on the road, she noticed a Tesla travelling nearby and initially could not believe what she was seeing.
The driver appeared to be asleep behind the wheel. According to King, there were also two children in the vehicle.
Video shared online shows the driver slumped to the side while the vehicle continues along the highway. The stretch of Highway 1 between Golden and Revelstoke is a busy mountain corridor, carrying local traffic, tourists, commercial vehicles and summer travellers. It is also a route known for construction zones, wildlife, heavy traffic and changing road conditions.
King explained that this particular stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway is an exhausting road to travel and requires constant attention from drivers. She said she called 911 and contacted Revelstoke RCMP after seeing the driver.
Police have confirmed they are aware of the video and are investigating. RCMP have not released the name of the driver, and no charges had been publicly announced as of publication.
The incident has drawn attention not only because of the apparent danger on a busy highway, but because of confusion around what so-called self-driving technology can legally do in British Columbia.
According to BC Highway Patrol Cpl. Michael McLaughlin, all drivers in B.C. must be alert, attentive and focused on driving at all times.
“Full self-driving modes aren’t legal in BC,” McLaughlin said.
He said Level 2 driver assistance is the highest level of automated driving support permitted in B.C. That can include features such as adaptive cruise control, lane assist, and some braking and acceleration support.
But those systems do not take responsibility away from the person behind the wheel.
“You still must be alert and in control at all times,” McLaughlin said.
McLaughlin said the issue can be confusing because some vehicle manufacturers refer to Level 2 assistance systems as “self-drive,” even though those features do not make the vehicle autonomous and do not change a driver’s legal obligations.
“‘Alert and in control’ means you must be fully awake with at least one hand on the wheel and your eyes on the road,” McLaughlin said. “You must be sober, focused, and free of distractions.”
The distinction is important as more vehicles come equipped with systems that can steer, brake, accelerate and maintain speed in certain conditions. While those features may reduce some of the strain of driving, police continue to stress that they are driver-assistance tools, not replacements for a human driver.
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system is available in Canada, but the company describes the technology as “Supervised.” Tesla’s own Canadian support page states that the feature does not make the vehicle autonomous or replace the driver, and that drivers must remain attentive and ready to take over at all times.
For communities along the Highway 1 corridor, the concern is not theoretical. The route between Golden and Revelstoke is one of the most heavily travelled stretches of highway in the region. In summer, traffic volumes rise with vacation travel, while mountain curves, construction, changing weather, wildlife and commercial traffic can all demand quick reaction from drivers.
A driver found asleep behind the wheel could face penalties under B.C.’s Motor Vehicle Act, including driving without consideration or driving without due care and attention. Both offences carry fines and penalty points.
The video has spread widely online, with many people expressing shock that a driver would appear to rely on automated technology while sleeping, particularly with children reportedly inside the vehicle.
For police, the message is simple: no matter what a vehicle’s technology is called, the driver is still responsible.
Anyone behind the wheel in B.C. must be awake, attentive and in control of the vehicle at all times.
