Tesla Autopilot and Full Self Driving is not autonomous driving and people need to stop treating it as such.

In another glaring example that Tesla drivers aren’t exactly the sharpest tools in the shed, a visitor to Northern California and Redditor /u/PCBen shared smartphone footage from Vacaville, CA on I-80 (taken from his passenger seat) showing a driver in a Tesla Model 3 “driving” down the freeway with a full sunshade blocking his view.

“Witnessed this genius on going east on I-80 through Vacaville, CA. It was Monday afternoon, 15-JUL-2024,” /u/PCBen clarified.

The driver likely has Tesla’s Autopilot or Full Self-Driving suite of driver’s assistance running, enabling his Model 3 to navigate the traffic-filled interstate without his assistance.

Tesla Autopilot and FSD, however, is not autonomous and are still classified as Level 2 out of 5, requiring a driver’s attention and intervention to use. (source.)

Check out the video below.

Autopilot + Sun Shield = Pure Idiocy [OC]
byu/PCBen inIdiotsInCars

In the video we can see someone on I-80 in a red Tesla Model 3 careening down the interstate, their vision obstructed by a full sunshade.

The sides of the windows are obstructed, and covered with newspaper, making it impossible for them to see out the sides, too.

There is no way for the driver to 100% safely drive his Tesla, even with driver assistance technologies enabled, as, as mentioned, the systems still require a driver to be attentive and take over in the event of a traffic anomaly or system error.

9JJUO017

The Tesla’s license plate is visible 9JJUO17.

“By the way – is there a way to report something like this retroactively? You can actually make out the plate in the non-redditfried version of the video,” OP asked other Redditors.

“I tried to call non-emergency in the moment but I’m from out of state and by the time I looked it up they had already taken an exit off the freeway.”

Although his comments were upvoted, other Redditors commented that the police likely would do nothing in this situation.

“Registered owner is not responsible for the action of the driver. As such, there is nothing cops can do in this situation,” /u/Spirited-Humor-554 replied.

In my opinion, this goes beyond driving with an obstructed windshield and is arguably reckless driving.

An autopilot or FSD malfunction can result in a catastrophic accident, a fully avoidable situation.

Reckless driving in California is subject to up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.

I don’t know how to drill this into Tesla owners’ heads, but this type of driving is flat-out inexcusable and, on top of the reckless driving charges, should get your license revoked permanently.

You and your special kind of stupidity don’t belong on public roads.

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