Man Prohibited from Driving After Attributing Speeding to His Tesla | Carscoops

      Police apprehended a man as he was leaving the Nøstved Tunnel in Norway, according to reports from 8 hours ago by Brad Anderson.

      A Norwegian driver received a fine for exceeding the speed limit by 40 km/h in a Tesla while using Autopilot. The court stated that the driver had seriously failed in his responsibility to monitor the road conditions. The driver contended that the vehicle did not recognize the lowered speed limits in the tunnel area.

      Contrary to what the term 'Autopilot' may suggest, Tesla’s driver-assistance system is not equivalent to fully autonomous driving, a lesson recently learned by a Tesla owner in Norway.

      The individual was recorded driving at 90 km/h (56 mph) in a 50 km/h (31 mph) zone. In court challenging the fine, he argued that the electric vehicle had not automatically adjusted to reflect the new speed limit, which he claimed was the reason for his speeding.

      This incident took place within the Nøstved Tunnel in Norway, where the typical speed limit is 90 km/h (56 mph). However, during a March evening, the right lane was closed, leading to a temporary speed reduction to 70 km/h (43 mph), followed by a further decrease to 50 km/h (31 mph).

      Nevertheless, the Tesla driver did not reduce his speed, and police were positioned at the tunnel's exit, recording him travelling 40 km/h (25 mph) over the 50 km/h limit. Attempting to contest the charges in court proved to be a mistake.

      He claimed there were no signs indicating the temporary speed limit reductions; however, the court dismissed this assertion, pointing out that the tariff control center, police, and other road users reported no issues with the signage. The man also stated that he had set his car’s Autopilot to adhere to the speed limit, but it did not comply with the limits of 70 km/h and 50 km/h.

      In its verdict, the court noted, “It is, in any case, the defendant's responsibility to be aware of the speed limit at all times, and it would be negligent to blindly rely on the vehicle’s technical systems being properly configured. The court therefore finds it proven beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant acted as indicated in the indictment, and at the very least, exhibited gross negligence. He is thus convicted in line with the charges.”

      Autopilot Does Not Cover Your Fines

      According to TV2, the driver was fined 16,500 kroner ($1,615), ordered to pay an additional 2,000 kroner ($196) in legal costs, and had his driver's license suspended for nine months. On the positive side, he now has ample time to consider the risks of depending on a vehicle for all decision-making.