Video shows Tesla driver apparently driving while asleep

A disturbing new video shows a US Tesla driver apparently caught asleep at the wheel while travelling at speeds over 90km/h.

Dakota Randall says he was driving on Massachusetts' Interstate 90 when he noticed a Tesla with its driver and passenger both asleep on Sunday (local time).

Footage he posted to Twitter shows the driver slumped forward in their seat, while their passenger also appears to be taking a nap.

"Some guy literally asleep at the wheel on the Mass Pike (great place for it)," he tweeted. "Teslas are sick, I guess?"

"I kind of looked over and saw what I thought was somebody asleep at the wheel and I was like that can't be right, so I did a double take, looked over and sure enough this guy was just, head between his legs completely asleep," Randall told NBC10 Boston. "It seemed like he had his cruise control on around like 55-60 miles per hour."

Randall says he attempted to wake them up by honking his horn, but it failed to rouse the pair.

Tesla emphasises that while its autopilot system features advanced safety features, it's not a "self-driving system".

"Autopilot is intended for use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any time," the company states on its website.

Randall says it's given him a new perspective on how to treat self-driving cars.

"I'm never going to look at one the same," he told NBC10. "I'm always going to look to see if somebody's asleep."

Newshub.