Zooming along a busy highway with every window completely obstructed may seem like the stuff of nightmares to some, but that’s exactly the scene a distraught motorist driving an electric car captured on camera earlier this week.
The US-based driver captured a photo of a red Tesla Model 3 driving down Interstate 80 in California, in full self-driving mode, with the passenger – if there is one – completely hidden from view. Every piece of exterior glass except the rear window is obstructed, and it appears the EV owner is doing his best to keep out the sun or the eyes of other drivers.
After the footage was uploaded to social media, people from around the world reacted in shock, with some describing the scene as “laughable” due to the obvious safety risks.
The footage shows a sun cover on the windshield, while the rear passenger windows are covered with paper. Source: Reddit
Tesla Highway video amazes global drivers
In the video, the entire windshield is obscured by a reflective sun visor, while the rear passenger windows are also covered with paper. “I can’t believe I just saw this on the highway,” the poster wrote next to the sighting. Unsurprisingly, the people who responded were frank in their thoughts.
“That’s it. License revoked for life. Car towed,” one person commented. Another said: “This is ridiculous, our country doesn’t care about bad drivers.” One person asked why the Tesla owner didn’t “darken the windows” before someone else intervened, speculating that they were “trying to sleep.”
On the other end of the spectrum, some praised the car’s drive. “This car does the job of driving better than half the people on the road,” one person wrote.
Another echoed: “Yes, to be fair, the Tesla drove well. Much better than the average driver.”
Australia and Tesla’s controversial self-driving capabilities
Although controversial, Tesla’s self-driving capabilities are legal in the US, depending on the state (not California), and some features exist in Australia as well.
Tesla’s Model S, Model 3, Model These systems rely on a combination of cameras, ultrasonic sensors, radar, and AI-based software to navigate roads, manage speed, and perform tasks such as lane changes, parking, and even merging highways.
Autopilot handles tasks like adaptive cruise control and lane focusing, while FSD is aimed at more advanced functions like automated city driving. Tesla says it regularly updates these systems through over-the-air software updates, “to continually improve their capabilities.”
Tesla’s Autopilot features are available here in Australia, including basic Autopilot (which includes traffic-aware cruise control and autosteering). However, FSD capabilities are limited depending on the jurisdiction.
Some advanced FSD features, like automated city driving and traffic sign recognition, aren’t quite legal here yet. Tesla owners in Australia can still purchase the FSD, but the full suite of features awaits regulatory approval.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, twitter And YouTube.