Police in Alberta, Canada tracked down the 2019 Tesla Model S – which is equipped with a “partially autonomous” system – after a complaint of a car speeding on the highway.

In a statement, police said the car “appeared to be self-driving, travelling over 140 km/h, with both front seats completely reclined and both occupants appearing to be asleep”.

When the responding officer activated emergency lights, other cars moved out of the way and the Tesla “automatically began to accelerate” to 150 km/h (around 93 mph).

The vehicle eventually pulled over and the 20-year-old driver was charged with speeding and given a 24-hour license suspension for fatigue. He was later also charged with dangerous driving.

Superintendent Gary Graham of Alberta RCMP Traffic Services said: “Although manufacturers of new vehicles have built in safeguards to prevent drivers from taking advantage of the new safety systems in vehicles, those systems are just that — supplemental safety systems. They are not self-driving systems, they still come with the responsibility of driving.”