West Kelowna driver ticketed after allegedly reading documents while driving Tesla

A West Kelowna driver has been issued violation tickets after police said they were caught reading documents while operating a Tesla on Highway 97.

The West Kelowna RCMP Traffic Unit said officers observed a Tesla Model Y travelling southbound on the highway on July 15 while traffic was heavy. Police said the driver was reading documents and did not have their hands on the steering wheel while the vehicle was moving.

Officers conducted a traffic stop and, following an investigation, issued the driver tickets for driving without due care and attention and driving with controls obstructed.

“Regardless of the technology available in a vehicle, drivers are responsible for maintaining control and remaining attentive at all times,” Const. Ash Puri, media relations officer with the West Kelowna RCMP, said in a statement.

Puri said driver-assistance systems are intended to support motorists, not replace them, and drivers must remain prepared to take control of their vehicles at all times.

The RCMP said the incident highlights growing concerns around the use of advanced driver-assistance technology in modern vehicles. While those systems can help with some driving tasks, police said motorists remain legally responsible for safe vehicle operation.

Distracted and inattentive driving continue to be major contributors to collisions across British Columbia, according to police, who are reminding drivers to stay focused behind the wheel and report dangerous driving when it is safe to do so.