Tesla Owners Will No Longer Be Able Play Video Games While Driving

The US government has finally passed a law that will prohibit Tesla sales from including any features related to video games. We take a look at what this means for the future of driving while playing video games and whether we’ll actually see an end to vehicular gaming once and for all

Tesla owners will no longer be able to play video games while driving. This is due to the fact that Tesla has given drivers a new feature called “Autopilot.” Autopilot causes issues when drivers are playing games, so Tesla has disabled the feature.

Tesla (photo)

Tesla has been persuaded to stop a feature of its electric vehicles termed “Passenger Play” that lets owners to play video games while driving, after a highly merited probe undertaken by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Tesla will be sending out a software update to stop the contentious benefit, according to the federal agency, which released a statement today. The NHTSA’s queries seem to have shaken Elon Musk’s business, as the company’s decision to disable the function came only one day after the agency revealed that it will launch an inquiry into why the company allowed an activity that would have taken a driver’s eyes off the road.

The NHTSA said, “Following the initiation of a preliminary study of Tesla’s ‘Passenger Play,’ Tesla notified the agency that the functioning of this feature is altering.” “When the car is in motion, ‘Passenger Play’ will now be locked and unplayable, thanks to a recent software update. The Agency meets with all manufacturers on a regular basis to address any possible safety risks with these technologies, including Tesla’s response to our concerns about this function.”

“The Vehicle Safety Act bans manufacturers from selling cars with flaws that pose an undue risk of injury, including devices that distract drivers from driving properly,” according to the agency. “The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is continually evaluating how manufacturers detect and protect against distracting dangers that may develop as a result of malfunctions, abuse, or intended usage of convenience systems, such as infotainment displays.” We will do so in the future. Consumer complaints and a large quantity of data that corporations are compelled to supply on a regular basis are also analyzed by the NHTSA in search of proof of safety issues. If the facts indicate that such a danger exists, the NHTSA will take urgent action.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s inquiry of Tesla was spurred in part by a complaint submitted by a Tesla owner in Portland who found that he could play video games while the vehicle was driving.

“Someone is going to die,” he said. “It’s completely irrational.”

NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) (via The Washington Post)