Speeding Tesla Driver Argues It Was Car’s Fault

A Tesla driver successful Norway has been fined and had his licence suspended aft relying connected nan car’s Autopilot system, which he claimed grounded to observe a impermanent velocity limit change. 

The incident occurred successful March successful nan Nøstved Tunnel, wherever nan driver was caught travelling astatine 90 km/h successful a 50 km/h zone, exceeding nan limit by 40 km/h.

Indignant astir nan fine, nan driver contested nan good successful tribunal by arguing that Tesla’s Autopilot, group to travel velocity limits automatically, did not set for nan impermanent simplification from nan accustomed 90 km/h to 70 km/h and past 50 km/h owed to a lane closure. He besides claimed nary signs indicated nan change. However, nan tribunal rejected his defence, stating that signage was clear, arsenic confirmed by nan toll power centre, police, and different roadworthy users.

Unconvinced by nan man’s plea, nan tribunal stressed that drivers must stay alert of velocity limits astatine each times, ruling that relying solely connected Autopilot was negligent. “It is nan defendant’s responsibility to beryllium alert of nan velocity limit, and it would beryllium negligent to trust blindly connected nan car’s method systems,” nan ruling stated. The tribunal recovered nan driver blameworthy of gross negligence.

The unnamed driver was fined 16,500 kroner (€1382.60), ordered to salary 2,000 kroner (€168) successful ineligible fees, and had his licence suspended for 9 months, according to a Norwegian TV position (TV2). The lawsuit highlights nan limitations of Tesla’s driver-assistance system, which is not afloat autonomous, and serves arsenic a reminder for drivers to enactment vigilant. The driver now has clip to bespeak connected nan risks of relying connected conveyance technology.