Video: Tesla driver watches as car steers into flood water in ‘Full Self-Driving’ mode

It may only be Wednesday, but there may be a new candidate for the Idiot of the Week: a Tesla driver who sat behind the wheel watching as his car – operating in its controversial semi-autonomous driving mode – steered into flood waters without human intervention, despite signs warning him of the impending danger.

And the driver reportedly plans to sue Tesla and the local government for the incident – even though drivers who activate the semi-autonomous technology are forced to agree they will remain attentive, and keep their hands on the steering wheel at all times while the system is activated.

A video uploaded to YouTube – and spotted by Road and Track – by Tesla dashcam account ‘Wham Baam Teslacam’ detailed the incident, which involved a Tesla Model 3 electric sedan and its driver, known simply as Ryan.

Ryan was allegedly travelling at 98km/h (60mph) on a dual-lane highway near Mono City, California with the Tesla operating in its so-called ‘Full Self-Driving’ mode – a semi-autonomous driving system which the company claims can accelerate, stop and steer the car without human intervention.

However, Tesla’s requirement for drivers to remain attentive and ready to take control of the car was soon tested, as Ryan passes a temporary road sign warning motorists of flood waters ahead.

Moments later, the car 'aquaplanes' through the water on the road, sending it left into the oncoming lane of traffic and then into a number of rocks – eventually coming to a rest partially submerged.

While Ryan emerged uninjured, the driver reportedly told Wham Baam Teslacam he plans to sue both Tesla and Mono City – though just how he could do so is unclear. 

In the case of the city, the signs ahead of the flood waters show there is an impending danger and for drivers to exercise caution – not continue at full speed expecting the road ahead to be clear.

It is unclear what claims the driver would be able to file against Tesla.

The electric-car giant was recently involved in a landmark case which demonstrated drivers of semi-autonomous cars are still responsible for their vehicles – even when in semi-autonomous driving modes that utilise systems such as radar cruise control and lane-keeping assistance.

Last month, the driver of a Tesla which killed two motorists after running a red light – while being operated in its so-called 'Autopilot' mode – was sentenced to house arrest and community service but avoided jail time.

Kevin George Aziz Riad became the first reported driver of a semi-autonomous car to be charged for their role in a fatal crash after his Tesla Model S sedan – operating in its ‘Autopilot’ semi-autonomous mode – it exited a freeway and ran a red light in south-east Los Angeles. 

The Tesla crashed into a stationary Honda Civic at 119km/h, killing the two occupants of the Honda – Gilberto Lopez and Maria Guadalupe Nieves-Lopez – while Mr Riad and his passenger were hospitalised with non-life threatening injuries.

Mr Riad pleaded no contest to two counts of vehicular manslaughter – allowing him to avoid an admission of guilt but accept the conviction – and was sentenced to two years of probation, 31 days of work service, 100 hours of community service, 90 days of house arrest, and a “hospital and morgue program”.