Why I Let a Tesla Become My Private Chauffeur

I have a private chauffeur now, and honestly, he drives better than I do.

His name is FSD.

Yes, my Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system has officially taken over my life.

My son convinced me to try it, and I admit: I’m hooked.

At first, it wasn’t easy handing complete control over to a car. The idea felt terrifying. I kept hovering over the steering wheel, ready to grab it at any second. But after a few months of using Tesla FSD, I trust it more than I trust myself.

Especially at night.

My Tesla “sees” better than I do in the dark. It sticks to the rules better than most humans, too.

I mean, who actually makes a complete stop at a stop sign anymore? Three full seconds can feel like an eternity.

My Tesla, however, behaves like a polite British butler.

“No, you go first…”

It stops and gives way to cars even when it technically doesn’t have to.

The Strange Joy of Watching My Car Think

One of the things I love most about Tesla Full Self-Driving is the giant screen showing everything around me in real time.

A bicyclist appears with a cute little bicycle icon. Pedestrians show up as tiny moving avatars. Cars glide across the screen like a video game.

And even when FSD isn’t activated, the car politely dings when the traffic light turns green — just in case you’re busy searching for a YouTube podcast at the light.

How civilized is that?

Why I Hate Driving (And Why FSD Changed Everything)

The reason I listened to my son when he said, “Mom, you’ll love FSD,” is that I’ve never liked driving.

I grew up living in France and England, where public transportation was normal. I spent my younger years taking trains, buses, and the Tube instead of sitting behind a steering wheel for hours.

Driving long distances has always exhausted me.

Unlike many Americans who grew up with a car at sixteen, I never loved road trips if I had to do the driving myself.

That’s why Tesla’s Full Self-Driving appealed to me so much.

My son lives in Santa Barbara, 147 miles (236 km) from me through the nightmare traffic of Los Angeles. Depending on traffic, it has taken me up to four hours to reach his house.

One week after leasing my Tesla with FSD, I let the car drive me all the way through Los Angeles to Santa Barbara without touching the steering wheel or brake once.

Not once.

It took courage at first, but I did it. And now? I can’t imagine going back.

The Moment I Realized I No Longer Know How to Drive

The other morning, before sunrise, I decided to override the car and take a different route to my gym.

I clicked the button to disengage FSD and took control of the Tesla myself.

I moved into the right lane to turn. Suddenly, the driver behind me slammed on his brakes and honked furiously.

I had completely cut him off. The shocking part? I honestly hadn’t seen him.

That was the moment I realized: Sonia, you no longer know how to drive. Let your private chauffeur handle it.

Will Self-Driving Cars Help Older Drivers Stay Independent?

So what’s the real reason I have Tesla FSD? Because I believe this technology is the future.

And if I’m lucky enough to still be alive at 85 or 90, perhaps with weaker eyesight and slower reflexes, maybe Full Self-Driving technology will help people like me remain independent longer.

Maybe it could prevent elderly drivers from losing their freedom the moment someone takes away their car keys. That thought matters to me.

I know self-driving technology scares some people, but honestly? Some drivers scare me more.

• FSD stays in the lane.
• It doesn’t text.
• It doesn’t have road rage.
• It doesn’t get distracted.

And these days, that already puts it ahead of many drivers on the road.

Are Self-Driving Cars the Future?

So now I’m curious. Have I convinced you that getting used to self-driving technology might actually be a smart idea? Would you trust a car to drive you through Los Angeles traffic? Or am I completely crazy for handing over control to my Tesla chauffeur?

Let me know in the comments below.