Tesla with sleeping driver demonstrates that there is still confusion and irresponsibility surrounding autonomy.

California Highway Patrol saw the vehicle and noted the driver was awake after catching up to the car. With the introduction of advanced driver assistance systems over the past several years, drivers have taken advantage of the functions to instead play on their phones, read books, eat food, or even catch up on sleep. 

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For one, those who use these functions irresponsibly put themselves and every other driver on the road at risk because if the vehicle needs assistance or encounters a situation where it would not react safely, the driver is responsible for taking over. If an accident occurs, it can be framed as any manufacturer's fault, depending on the vehicle used, and instances like this can set the future of semi-autonomous and autonomously driving back years due to skepticism.

Police stated the driver was caught up to two minutes after receiving calls about the driver, and the driver was attentive at the time. While the Full Self-Driving suite has caused controversy over its name, the automaker continues to remind those who use it to remain vigilant, as the cars cannot truly drive themselves. 

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The system is intended to only be used with a fully attentive driver. Before enabling autopilot, you must agree to keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times and to always maintain control and responsibility for your car. If you ignore any of the warnings, you will be locked out of using the autopilot feature during the trip. According to the society of automotive engineers levels of driving automation, the vehicles are defined as Level 2. 

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When these systems are activated, the driver is still responsible for driving the car. The SAE says that you have to constantly supervise the support features. Level 3 to Level 5 systems maintain that the operator is not driving the car, but Level 5 systems are the only ones that are explicitly labeled as self-driving. Cabin-facing cameras are used to make sure the operator is keeping their eyes on the road. 

Various cheat devices have been marketed across the internet, and in this instance, the driver appears to have their hands on the steering wheel. According to the notes, the cabin camera above your mirror can now detect and alert driver inattentiveness. The potential irresponsibility of users puts major risks to those on the road and the companies that develop driver assistance programs.  
 

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