Robotaxi services from Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA), like those offered in Houston, Texas, could benefit in several ways. They could eliminate the need for some people to own a vehicle, compete on price with other transportation options, and allow some people, like the elderly or those without driver’s licenses, to use a car.
Robotaxis are also getting another endorsement and unique utility.
Ride Drunk in a Robotaxi
For years, some police departments have bought Tesla vehicles to save on costs like gasoline and repairs. Now, a police union is recommending Tesla vehicles for another reason.
"There has never been an excuse to drink and drive. With @Tesla expanding their Cybercab/Robotaxi services across #Houston, there are more ways than ever to get home safely after a night out. Plan ahead, make the smart choice, and never get behind the wheel impaired," the Houston Police Officers Union tweeted recently.
The tweet also featured the hashtag #DontDrinkAndDrive. The Houston Police Officers Union represents more than 5,500 police officers in the Houston area.
Tesla launched its robotaxi operations in Houston in April and recently expanded them on Oct. 26.
Robotaxi Safety
Local Houston news outlet ABC13 reported that since autonomous vehicle services launched in the city, 21 crashes were reported from Sept. 2025 through Aug. 2026. It is unknown how many belonged to each car company. Of the 21 crashes, only minor injuries were reported.
Houston’s mayor John Whitmire chimed in on autonomous vehicles.
"We monitor them very carefully, but we have no authority to regulate," Whitmire told ABC13.
Tesla’s self-driving software, like Autopilot or FSD, has been a hot topic for regulation and liability in recent years. Drivers have tried to get out of tickets or drunk driving offenses while using the technology.
Both Autopilot and FSD still require a legal operator to monitor the driving, meaning the driver must be legally licensed and not impaired.
For robotaxis like Tesla’s, things are different. The Cybercab has no steering wheel or pedals and takes away liability for the rider. Tesla does still have rules about consuming alcohol in vehicles.
Tesla recently rolled out quite mode improvements for the Model Y robotaxis, as reported by Teslarati. This includes blacking out the main computer screen to make it easier to sleep.
"Maybe five or six years from now I think we’ll be able to achieve true autonomous driving where you could literally get in the car, go to sleep and wake up at your destination," Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in October 2014, as reported by Teslarati.
Musk shared similar thoughts at the company’s We Robot event in October 2024 where the cybercab was unveiled.
"We’ll move from supervised Full Self-Driving to unsupervised Full Self-Driving, where you can fall asleep and wake up at your destination."
Robotaxis are at the point where passengers can sleep if they choose. Passengers can also be drunk and get home safe according to Houston police.
Photo: Josiah True / Shutterstock.com
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