CT Teen Driver Arrested on I-91 While Nodding Out Driving a Tesla

You may have already heard that a 19-year-old New York man was arrested after he was found asleep behind the wheel of a self-driving Tesla on Interstate 91 in Wethersfield. This was not the first time a moronic driver has attempted to catch a nap while driving.

According to the Connecticut State Police, 911 callers reported that the driver appeared to be slumped over and presumably asleep behind the wheel. I'm not trying to make excuses for this sleepy, impaired teen, but let’s cut the kid a tiny bit of slack. He’s 19, which means his brain is basically still in beta mode. Science says he won’t hit peak decision-making until his mid-20s, and clearly, he's still buffering.

This is your brain on adolescence: "Should I pull over to sleep? Nah, this middle lane looks safe, plus I'm only going 30mph. What could possibly go wrong?" The following YouTube video by David Nichols is not about the 19-year-old driver but is related to driving while taking a snooze. It's a must watch!

I can’t help but wonder what consequences, if any, parents might impose on their teen who falls asleep while driving under the influence. This question is directed at parents of teenagers with a driver’s license. If your teen were pulled over for impaired driving while taking a nap, which is considered reckless driving, how would you handle that situation? I'm asking for a friend.

All Teslas come with the handy Autopilot feature, which offers great tools like Traffic-Aware Cruise Control and Autosteer. While Autopilot helps you out by maintaining speed, keeping a safe following distance, and steering in specific situations, it’s important to remember that you need to stay alert and in control of the vehicle at all times. 

Currently, there is no 'Full Self- Driving' feature only a 'Full Self-Driving' (Supervised) feature that requires active driver supervision. It can navigate various roadways and traffic situations, but the driver remains responsible for safe operation and must be prepared to take control at any time. According Getty Images, In December, Tesla recalled 700,000 Tesla Cybertrucks.