A teenager failed his driving test due to the lack of braking in a Tesla (3 photos)

Failing a test due to regenerative braking

A teenager in Canada failed her practical driving test because she didn’t use traditional brakes. Instead, she relied on the regenerative braking feature in her Tesla Model Y, which automatically slows the car without pressing the brake pedal. The examiner counted this as a violation because the rules require active use of the brake pedal.

Technology vs. Traditional Rules

The girl was driving her father’s car and didn’t know how to turn off the regenerative braking system. The Drive Test Ontario examiner denied her the opportunity to stop the test to consult with her father and labeled the car as “malfunctioning,” even though it was functioning properly. She was also fined for the Tesla’s beeping sound when the light turned green.

I find this quite disappointing because even if it’s regenerative braking and you’re not using the brake pedal, you’re clearly the one in full control of stopping or slowing the car



Inconsistent Standards

After the story went viral on social media, it became apparent that there were conflicting approaches across Ontario, with some students being allowed to use regenerative braking during the test, while others were required to turn it off. This discrepancy is due to the lack of clear guidance from Drive Test Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation on such technologies.



A spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation noted that candidates should understand how their vehicle’s systems affect driving, but there are no specific requirements for using the brake pedal or regenerative braking on official websites. This creates uncertainty for drivers using modern electric vehicles and highlights the need to update the rules to keep up with technological advances.