Shocking footage has revealed the moment a motorcyclist intentionally hit a Tesla Model 3, while it was in Autopilot.
The video, which was captured by the Tesla’s dash cam system, shows how the frustrated motorcyclist lashed out at the car, after it wouldn’t make space for him to pass by.
The car owner, known only as ‘yorkhung’, posted the video on Reddit, claiming he was ‘attacked’.
He wrote: “Today, I was driving on I-880 North using the Autopilot, and I was attacked by a motorcyclist.”
While the motorcyclist was wrong to hit the car, in California it is legal for motorcycles to ride between lanes, raising questions about Autopilot’s decision not to make room on the road.
Specialist site, Elektrek , explained: “The driver appears to be using Autopilot as an excuse for not having given the motorcyclist space, but Tesla drivers are supposed to be responsible for monitoring the road and being ready to take control at all times when using Autopilot.”
Tesla’s Autopilot feature enables the car to steer, accelerate and brake within its lane, although Tesla highlights that it requires active driver supervision when in use.
In this instance, both the motorcyclist and driver were left unharmed, but previous Tesla-related incidents have proved fatal.
Back in March, Tesla hit the headlines, after one of its cars was involved in a fatal collision in Florida.
The incident saw a Tesla Model 3 crash into a semi-truck, sadly killing the driver in the process.
And a report by the National Transportation Safety Board revealed that the Tesla had Autopilot mode activated seconds before the crash.
