We all know Tesla cars are capable of driving themselves, at least to a certain extent. But this real-life story from Sweden shows just how risky it can be to place full trust in technology. Imagine this—a driver turns on Autopilot, leans back, and takes a nap while the car keeps rolling down the highway. It happened. And the driver stayed asleep for 40 straight kilometers while the police followed him the entire time.
Sounds unreal? It happened, and it could have ended very badly. Here’s a breakdown of what went wrong, how it all ended, and the big lesson every driver should take away from this.
Warning
The whole thing began on Sweden’s E4 highway. It’s a busy route, so drivers are always alert—at least most of them. But one motorist noticed something wasn’t quite right. A Tesla Model X was in the passing lane but wasn’t passing anyone. Strange, right? When the curious driver got closer, he saw something shocking: the Tesla driver was asleep. Not just nodding off—completely out.
He quickly called the police, realizing this could become a major accident if something didn’t change fast.
Chase
By the time the police got the call and started tracking the Tesla, the car had already traveled over 26 kilometers. It kept cruising on Autopilot, heading toward the city of Linköping. The Tesla still had plenty of battery power, and there was nothing stopping it from continuing—except the fact that the person behind the wheel was fast asleep.
The police followed from behind, keeping their distance but clearly concerned.
Struggle
Trying to stop the car wasn’t simple. Police couldn’t force it off the highway right away. They had to wait for an exit to try to get the driver’s attention. All the while, the man remained sound asleep.
Eventually, the driver did wake up—but it didn’t make things better immediately. He jerked the wheel to the right so suddenly that a police car had to swerve quickly to avoid a crash. Finally, the Tesla pulled into a gas station. The 40-kilometer drama was finally over.
Truth
When the officers questioned him, the man admitted he hadn’t slept at all the night before. He was under pressure to deliver the vehicle and just couldn’t stay awake. At first, he claimed he had kept one eye open the whole time, but eventually confessed he’d dozed off completely. He said:
“I’m very ashamed. It was due to exhaustion. I had a Tesla with autopilot, which made me feel very comfortable.”
Lesson
This is a perfect example of what not to do with Autopilot. Yes, it can help in certain driving situations, but it doesn’t replace a human behind the wheel. Tesla makes it clear: Autopilot requires full driver attention.
Autonomous tech is impressive—but it’s not perfect. It’s still up to us to make smart choices. Falling asleep while driving, no matter what car you’re in, is reckless.
Reminder
If you’re feeling tired, don’t test the limits of technology. Don’t tell yourself, “It’s okay, the car will drive.” It might—until something goes wrong.
If you’re exhausted, pull over. Take a break. Find a safe way to get where you’re going. At the end of the day, the safest driver is an alert one. Tesla or not, you’re still the one in charge.
FAQs
Can you sleep with Tesla Autopilot on?
No. Tesla Autopilot requires driver attention at all times.
What happened to the Swedish driver?
He was convicted of reckless driving for falling asleep on Autopilot.
How far did the Tesla drive itself?
About 40 kilometers before the driver finally woke up.
Did the Tesla crash?
No, but there was a near miss with a police car when he woke up.
Is Tesla fully self-driving?
Not yet. Tesla’s system needs an alert driver at all times.
