Tesla driver filmed apparently asleep at 100 km/h on Canadian highway with two children aboard, RCMP opens investigation

The incident

A motorist on the Trans-Canada Highway captured video of a grey Tesla travelling at roughly 100 kilometres per hour while its driver appeared to be asleep. The footage, recorded on the afternoon of Sunday 5 July by Carleigh King, shows the woman with her head tilted to the right, eyes covered by sunglasses, and hands away from the steering wheel. Two children were visible on the rear seat, also apparently asleep. The stretch between Golden and Revelstoke in south-eastern British Columbia was described as busy summer-weekend traffic.

King posted the clip to Facebook, where it was shared more than 10,000 times within hours. She told media the scene was "absolutely incredible" and "shocking and horrible," adding that she contacted the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

100 km an hour, a super-busy summer Sunday and two kids in the car. Shocking and horrible, but where is this world going?

The investigation

The RCMP confirmed it has opened an official investigation into a possible unlawful use of driver-assistance systems. The Revelstoke detachment has not yet confirmed the presence of the two children, a detail that King reported and that appears in the video. If the driver's behaviour is confirmed, it could constitute a violation of British Columbia's Motor Vehicle Act, which since 2024 has prohibited full reliance on Level 3, 4 and 5 automated vehicles. The presence of minors could aggravate any penalties.

How the safeguards may have been bypassed

Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system is classified as Level 2 driver assistance, meaning the person behind the wheel must supervise the vehicle at all times and be ready to intervene. The car issues audible alerts when it detects that the driver's hands are off the wheel or that their eyes are not on the road, and a cabin camera monitors gaze direction. If warnings are ignored, the vehicle is designed to slow down and eventually stop.

Experts cited by CBC noted that the sunglasses worn by the woman may have prevented the interior camera from correctly tracking her eye position. Separately, a device attached to the steering wheel could have simulated hand pressure, tricking the torque sensor into believing the driver was holding the wheel. Fred Lambert, an electric-vehicle specialist at Electrek, pointed out that the owner's manual requires a warning message to appear every time the automation function is engaged, reminding the driver to remain attentive.

The car's manual states that every time you activate the automation function, a message appears warning you to pay attention.

The wider debate

The video has reignited international discussion about the safety of driver-assistance technology. While Tesla's camera-based system does not rely on lidar or high-definition maps, it remains a supervised system that does not meet the legal threshold for true autonomous driving in Canada. British Columbia's 2024 legislative update explicitly bans drivers from ceding full control to automated vehicles of Level 3 and above, making the alleged conduct not only dangerous but illegal under provincial law.

What happens next

The RCMP investigation is ongoing. No charges have been announced as of 10 July. The footage continues to circulate on social media, drawing attention from road-safety advocates and automotive commentators who argue that the incident illustrates the gap between the capabilities marketed by automakers and the legal responsibilities of drivers.