Teen Flunks Driver Test Because She Didn’t Use Her Tesla’s Brakes

Driver from Ontario was penalized because she relied on the EV’s regenerative braking to slow down

                                        https://www.carscoops.com/author/chris-chilton-cc/                                    

by Chris Chilton

33 minutes ago

Using an EV’s regenerative braking power to slow down can make driving in traffic easier because you don’t have to constantly jump between pedals. But judging by one teen’s experience, it can actually make passing your driving test harder.

A student in North Bay, Ontario, failed her full (G) road test after relying on the Tesla Model Y’s regen function to slow the car. Because the system reduced speed without her pressing the brake pedal, the examiner marked her down.

When Tech Meets Tradition

Eric Simard told CBC News that his daughter was driving his Tesla and didn’t know how to deactivate the brake regeneration. The Drive Test Ontario examiner allegedly told her that she couldn’t pause the test to call her dad how to switch it out, and checked a box on the test report to say the vehicle was “out of order,” though it was only performing as intended. They also penalized the learner for the Tesla chiming to indicate a stop light had turned green.

Related: This Controversial EV Braking Feature Will Be Illegal In China By 2027

“I find it pretty frustrating because even though it’s regenerative braking and you’re not using the brake pedal, you’re clearly the one that is in full control of making the vehicle come to a stop or to slow down,” Simard said.

Inconsistent Standards

Even more frustrating, when Simard posted about his experience on Facebook he learned that some Ontario learners had been allowed to use the regenerative braking effect on their G practical test, though others had been asked by their examiners to deactivate it.

The mixed response appears to be due to Drive Test Ontario and Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation not having a clear stance on the tech.

“Applicants are expected to understand how their vehicle’s system – including lane centering, regenerative braking, adaptive cruise control and automated parking – may affect handling and performance during a road test,” Julia Caslin, a spokesperson for the MoT, told Canada‘s CBC via email. But she made no mention of drivers being required to push the brake pedal to bring a car to a stop, and nor is there any reference to regenerative braking on their websites.

Thanks to DB for the tip!