In future, it will be possible to travel in a car without having to steer or control it. The technology already exists for what are known as autonomous vehicles. At this time, there are just a few production cars from companies like Tesla and Mercedes-Benz which have autonomous capability where the car is fully controlled by computer as it moves along the highway.
But while some countries allow such vehicles to operate – and only in specific public highways – regulations in Malaysia do not permit a vehicle to be driven without driver control. The present laws require the driver to be in control at all times.
So it is obviously a very serious offence when a driver decided to go to sleep and let his car drive on ‘autopilot’ on a Malaysian road This came to the attention of the police after a local DJ, Gatita Yan, uploaded a post on her Instagram page which showed her boyfriend, Tay Wee Shen, seemingly asleep with his hands off the steering wheel. Another picture also showed his feet not on the pedals, suggesting that the car (a BMW) was running with its cruise control in operation.
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