Tesla driver caught reading in traffic ticketed in West Kelowna

Tesla drivers can’t get away with autopilot in the Okanagan.

West Kelowna RCMP caught a driver who tried to do just that along Highway 97 this week, using their onboard technology to drive while reading in traffic.

An officer pulled over the Tesla SUV on Wednesday, July 15, and handed them tickets for driving without due care and attention and for driving with controls obstructed, according to a news release.

“Regardless of the technology available in a vehicle, drivers are responsible for maintaining control and remaining attentive at all times,” Const. Ash Puri of West Kelowna RCMP said in the news release.

As technology advances, manufacturers like Tesla have been rolling out more advanced features that near self-driving capabilities. Despite those advances, it’s not legal in BC to rely on those systems without holding the wheel.

“Driver-assistance features are designed to assist drivers, not replace them. Taking your attention away from the road while a vehicle is in motion places everyone at risk and can have serious consequences,” Puri said.

Drivers must be prepared to take control of the vehicle immediately, rather than allowing the car to take full control of the drive, according to West Kelowna RCMP.