Auckland road rage incident leads to arrest after Tesla dashcam evidence

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In late September 2021, a road rage incident occurred in Auckland, New Zealand, involving Geoff Gardiner, who was driving a Tesla Model X. After Gardiner performed a legal overtake, the driver of a black Mitsubishi Galant began tailgating him for several miles. The encounter escalated as the Mitsubishi driver repeatedly brake-checked Gardiner, blocked the road, and eventually sideswiped and rammed the Tesla. Following the collision, the Mitsubishi driver exited his vehicle and attempted to intimidate Gardiner by banging on the windows and blocking other motorists to claim they were witnesses to the event. Police arrived at the scene shortly after the collision and arrested the Mitsubishi driver. The incident was widely discussed after Gardiner shared the footage from his vehicle's Sentry Mode. This footage was subsequently used as evidence in court to support charges of attempted assault, reckless driving, and threatening behavior. While the Tesla sustained significant damage—estimated between $45,000 and $65,000—the repairs were covered by insurance, though the vehicle was out of commission for approximately three months. The case was resolved in court due to the clarity of the video evidence, which provided a comprehensive account of the events.