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A Tesla driver who climbed into the passenger seat after turning on autopilot on the M1 has been banned from driving for 18 months.

Bhavesh Patel, 39, even had his hands behind his head when a passenger spotted him speeding along at 40mph.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at St Albans Crown Court on Friday, April 20, claiming he had been ‘silly’, but said the car was ‘amazing’ and he was the ‘unlucky one who got caught’.

Patel was driving his wife’s white Tesla S 60 along the northbound carriageway of the M1, between junctions 8 and 9 near Hemel Hempstead, last May, when he was spotted by fellow drivers.




Patel, of Alfreton Road, Nottingham, was happily sat in the passenger seat with his hands behind his head, MailOnline reported.

Bhavesh Patel was caught in the passenger seat of the Tesla (Picture: Hertfordshire Police)

Investigating officer PC Kirk Caldicutt slammed Patel as ‘grossly irresponsible’, risking lives with his prank.

He said: ‘He not only endangered his own life but the lives of other innocent people using the motorway on that day.

‘This case should serve as an example to all drivers who have access to autopilot controls and have thought about attempting something similar. I want to stress that they are in no way a substitute for a competent motorist in the driving seat who can react appropriately to the road ahead.

‘I hope Patel uses his disqualification period to reflect on why he chose to make such a reckless decision on that day.’

Bhavesh Patel’s Tesla was spotted on the M1 without a driver (Picture: Hertfordshire Police)

Patel was also given 100 hours of unpaid work, 10 days rehabilitation and £1,800 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Tesla engineers described autopilot as a ‘suite of driver assistance features’ but that it was a ‘hands-on feature’ intended to only provide assistance to a ‘fully-attentive driver’.

The Tesla brochure states: ‘Always watch the road in front of you and be prepared to take corrective action at all times. Failure to do so can result in serious injury or death.’

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