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Troopers Use Tesla's "Autopilot" to Stop Man Asleep at the Wheel

Troopers with the California Highway Patrol used some ingenuity when they stopped a man asleep behind the wheel of his Tesla Model 3 sedan.

December 4, 2018
1 min to read


According to a report in the Seattle Times, troopers with the California Highway Patrol used some ingenuity when they stopped a man asleep behind the wheel of his Tesla Model 3 sedan.

The vehicle was traveling at 70 miles per hour when troopers attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Finding the man unresponsive, they dropped behind the vehicle and formulated a plan.

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Determining that the vehicle was probably set on its "autopilot" driver assist feature, one of the pursuing squads got into position in front of the car, and gradually reduced speed. The car's sensors—in order to keep at a safe distance—altered speed accordingly, and eventually came to a complete stop.

Troopers then awakened the man, and arrested him on suspicion of DUI.  

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