TV presenter blames Elon Musk's Tesla for speeding as he's banned from driving for six months
A former television presenter is blaming Elon Musk for his recent driving ban, claiming that his Tesla vehicle should've been fitted with a speed alert warning.
While Tesla's once included speed alert warnings, the feature was removed from its software in February 2024.
It's been a rough year for Tesla, and even before Elon Musk's spectacular falling out with President Donald Trump, the company's stocks had taken a battering.
There have also been multiple lawsuits aimed at the electric vehicle giant, with Tesla shareholders ever claiming they were misled over Musk's robotaxi promises.
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While no one was injured in the latest Tesla tale, one TV presenter alleges that Tesla is at fault for him receiving a six-month driving ban.
Former Newnight presenter Adam Raphael has placed the blame firmly at Tesla's door.
The 87-year-old was caught driving at 26mph in January 2024, and having nine points on his license from three previous offenses, Raphael has been slapped with a six-month suspension.
The Daily Mail reports that while Raphael admitted one count of speeding at Lavender Hill Magistrates' Court, he's now trying to raise awareness for others who could be caught out by Tesla's lack of a speed alert warning.
Raphael stated: "I would like to stress three of these offences, not my first, came after Tesla the manufacturer withdrew a speed alert warning from its software in February 2024.
"It is an EU requirement for manufacturers to fit their cars with technology. As a result, all new cars in the UK from 2022, with the exception of my car, have speed warnings. My Tesla did not have this warning."
Saying that he complained to Tesla in March 2024, Raphael claimed: "A customer representative replied and left a voicemail explaining the reason, and said the decision to install a speed warning no longer applied to the following countries, and said this will be reviewed.”
He referred to it as a 'crucial safety issue', although the Tesla representative said it wasn't a requirement.
When in court, Raphael argued that he would no longer be able to see his children and grandchildren.
Continuing to defend himself, he added: "I am 87 years old and fairly fit for my age. I have had both of my knees and shoulders replaced. I am a bionic man in that respect.
"I drive about 1,500 miles a month, which I think is unusual. I have driven for nearly 70 years. I have never had a serious accident.
"London traffic is also a complex thing with lorries and cyclists. My eyes were on the road and not my speeding monitor."
This fell on deaf ears when it came to Magistrate Sarah Brown, who stopped the former presenter and reiterated: “When you make an application for exceptional hardship, it has nothing to do with the offences.
"What you are saying is not really relevant. I am going to stop you there. We only want to know more about what this will stop you doing."
In Raphael's defense, he concluded: "Frankly I know I don’t qualify, but I do think there are mitigating circumstances."
After Raphael was caught driving at 26mph in a 20mph zone, Brown handed him a six-month driving ban, then ordered him to pay a total of £573 ($766) in fines, court costs, and a victim surcharge.