A woman who was allegedly sleeping behind the wheel of her Tesla during a morning commute on Hwy 1 was ticketed for her actions.
The BC Highway Patrol (BCHP) shed light on the incident through a news release issued this morning, saying it happened in rush-hour traffic around 8:30 am on Monday, March 17.
According to the BCHP, an officer pulled up beside the electric car that was driving eastbound on Hwy 1 through Coquitlam in what was described as slippery, rainy conditions.
The news release says the driver had her eyes closed and arms crossed, with Cpl. Michael McLaughlin noting that she “appeared to be literally asleep at the wheel.”
“The driver said that she had ‘zoned out’ but was fully alert with her hands on the steering wheel,” he explained. “In-car police video did not support the driver’s claim.”
While some electric vehicles have self-driving mode, McLaughlin notes that those systems “are not legal to use in BC.”
“You need to be fully awake, alert, focused and in control of your vehicle at all times,” he clarified.
The woman was fined $368 for driving without due care and attention and $138 for speeding against a highway sign.
