---
title: "Watch Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Mode Steer Toward Oncoming Highway Traffic"
description: "Terrifying video footage shows a Tesla Model Y, with its self-driving system engaged, start to drift into multiple lanes of oncoming traffic."
date: "2021-03-22"
modified: "2021-03-22"
authors:
  - name: "Dan Robitzski"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/watch-tesla-self-driving-steer-toward-oncoming-highway-traffic"
categories:
  - "Advanced Transport"
  - "Self-Driving Vehicles"
  - "Tesla"
tags:
  - "autopilot"
  - "Self-driving cars"
  - "tesla"
  - "the digest"
---

# Watch Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Mode Steer Toward Oncoming Highway Traffic

![Terrifying video footage shows a Tesla Model Y, with its self-driving system engaged, start to drift into multiple lanes of oncoming traffic.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/leftturn.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Chuck Cook via YouTube (Screenshot) / Futurism\</em\>*

## Safety First

A harrowing new video shows a Tesla, with its Full Self Driving Beta system engaged, begin to drift into multiple lanes of oncoming highway traffic before the driver slams on the brakes at the last second.

YouTuber and Tesla owner Chuck Cook recently [uploaded footage](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uClWlVCwHsI>) from inside his Tesla Model Y and from an overhead drone as he makes unprotected left turns across a three-lane highway with the latest version of the "Full Self-Driving" beta driver assistance software turned on. For the most part, the car performed great, waiting until there was a big enough gap in traffic before committing to the turn. But, [as *Jalopnik* notes](<https://jalopnik.com/drone-footage-of-tesla-making-unprotected-left-turns-is-1846522768>), some of the attempts looked a little concerning, and one was downright life-threatening.

## Close Call

As Futurism has reported in the past, taking an unprotected left turn, or a left turn across at least one lane of traffic without a designated green light, [poses a disproportionate challenge](<https://futurism.com/waymo-one-early-rider-autonomous-vehicle>) to self-driving cars.

The questionable turns begin at about the 5:34 point, and the particularly-scary final attempt starts at about 8:22.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uClWlVCwHsI&t=334s

During the turn, you can hear panic in Cook's voice as he slams the brakes and apologizes for ruining the experiment. Meanwhile, the overhead drone footage shows traffic passing extremely close to the front of the car.

It's worth repeating that the assisted driving system made several impressive-looking turns before that last near-crash, but it also only takes one momentary lapse for [disaster to strike](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/tesla-driver-watching-movie-autopilot-slams-police-cars>). It's also a timely reminder that, despite Tesla calling its systems "Autopilot" and "Full Self-Driving," these cars only reach level two of autonomy and absolutely still [require human supervision](<https://futurism.com/tesla-crash-confused-autonomous-autopilot>).

**READ MORE:** [Drone Footage Of Tesla Making Unprotected Left Turns Is Seriously Terrifying](<https://jalopnik.com/drone-footage-of-tesla-making-unprotected-left-turns-is-1846522768>) \[*Jalopnik*\]

**More on Tesla Autopilot:** *[Tesla Crash Shows Drivers Are Confused By “Autonomous” vs. “Autopilot”](<https://futurism.com/tesla-crash-confused-autonomous-autopilot>)*

## Author
Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/danrobitzski>)