UPDATED 20:42 EDT / DECEMBER 23 2021

EMERGING TECH

Following NHTSA investigation, Tesla blocks gaming while cars are being driven

In response to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation, Tesla Inc. today said it has disabled the ability to play video games while their vehicles are being driven.

As reported yesterday, the NHTSA ODI investigation was launched following a complaint that the gaming feature available on Tesla models starting from 2017, could be used while the vehicle was being driven. Theoretically, a Tesla driver could play games while driving, but the investigation concerned the feature as a driver distraction.

The NHTSA did note that there are no known crashes or injuries caused by the feature, but that said, the issue could have led to a recall.

Tesla responded to the investigation by telling NHSTA that it’s disabling the feature while its vehicles are being driven.

“Following the opening of a preliminary evaluation of Tesla’s ‘Passenger Play,’ Tesla informed the agency that it is changing the functionality of this feature,” NHSTA said. “In a new software update, ‘Passenger Play’ will now be locked and unusable when the vehicle is in motion. The Agency maintains regular discussions with all manufacturers to discuss potential safety concerns of these systems, including Tesla’s response to our concerns about this feature.”

The agency added that “the Vehicle Safety Act prohibits manufacturers from selling vehicles with defects posing unreasonable risks to safety, including technologies that distract drivers from driving safely. NHTSA constantly assesses how manufacturers identify and safeguard against distraction hazards that may arise due to faults, misuse, or intended use of convenience technologies, including infotainment screens. We will continue to do so.”

While the software update may head off one NHTSA investigation into Tesla, the company headed by Elon Musk is not out of the woods yet. In August, NHTSA announced an investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot advanced driver-assistance system following multiple crashes where the Autopilot system was active.

CNBC reports that NHTSA is also investigating reports of faulty Autopilot cameras in some Tesla vehicles manufactured at its facility in Fremont, California. Tesla makes vehicles in California, Nevada, Germany and mainland China. Tesla has committed to replacing the camera in Model S, X and 3 vehicles.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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