In November 2025, a passenger in San Francisco shared a troubling video online, capturing a Tesla safety driver asleep at the wheel during a robotaxi ride. This incident raises questions about the effectiveness of safety drivers in autonomous vehicles, particularly considering the demands of such a role. The passenger, identified as a Reddit user named ohmichael, reported the driver fell asleep three times during the ride. Concerned for safety, he reached out to Tesla but received no response, highlighting potential oversights in the company's responsiveness to critical incidents. This event has echoes in the experiences of another passenger, who revealed they encountered the same inattentive driver on a congested route. The safety driver’s sleep raises significant safety concerns regarding Tesla's operational practices and suggests they may be less stringent in training their personnel than competitors like Waymo, who prioritize extensive training for their drivers. Furthermore, this incident's implications extend into the broader context of Tesla’s robotaxi initiative, which has experienced several crashes since its inception in Austin, Texas. Tesla's reluctance to fully disclose safety data to regulatory authorities further complicates the narrative, undermining public confidence in its autonomous vehicle programs. As the company navigates the challenges of an aging model lineup and diminishing profits, its investment in autonomous technology remains critical, but incidents like these could hinder consumer trust and acceptance. Tesla holds a permit from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, allowing them to test autonomous vehicles with safety drivers, but it lacks necessary approvals from the California Public Utilities Commission for fully autonomous operations. In light of these circumstances, the company may need to reassess its safety protocols and their staff training processes to ensure operational integrity and passenger safety. The mixed outcomes of Tesla's robotaxi ventures might provoke expedited regulatory scrutiny, ultimately shaping the future of autonomous ridesharing and testing in California and beyond.