Tesla To Discontinue Playing Games on Infotainment Screens in Moving Automobiles Following US Government Probe
Following the announcement of an investigation into Tesla's decision to enable passengers to play video games while driving, the firm has chosen to discontinue the option.
Friday, December 24, 2021 | Chimniii Desk
After an investigation into Tesla's decision to allow individuals to play video games in a moving vehicle was publicised, Tesla decided to discontinue the practise. According to the Associated Press, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that the company will release a software update via the internet that will disable the "Passenger Play" function. The announcement comes just one day after the US authorities announced it would conduct an official investigation into the distracted driving risks presented by Tesla's video games.
The NHTSA announced the revision on Thursday, stating that it was done after officials reported concerns about the system to Tesla. Tesla was contacted by the NHTSA for comment on the incident. The government has stated that it will continue to investigate Tesla's feature even after the upgrade, although it is unclear whether the NHTSA will order Tesla to do a formal recall as a result of the upgrade. The statement said, "The Vehicle Safety Act prohibits manufacturers from marketing vehicles that pose unacceptable safety risks, including driver distraction technologies."
Advertisement
Tesla's displays to be subjected to an official investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The NHTSA announced on Wednesday that it would conduct a formal investigation into Tesla's screens following a complaint filed by a Tesla owner in Portland, Oregon, who discovered that a driver could play games using the "Passenger Play" feature while the cars were in motion. According to AP, the Tesla user indicated that he had nothing against Tesla but is concerned that the game might distract drivers and cause someone to die.
According to the agency, the "Passenger Play" feature may distract the driver and hence increase the risk of a crash. Around 580,000 Tesla models are being investigated. According to the AP storey, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicated in documents that "Passenger Play" has been available since December 2020. Previously, gameplay could only be enabled while the vehicle was parked, but now it may be played while the vehicle is in motion. The NHTSA statement made no reference to any crashes or injuries as a result of the problem.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is already examining Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" capability after receiving a complaint that it nearly caused a crash. Tesla, on the other hand, asserts that neither technology is capable of driving a vehicle and that drivers must always be attentive and prepared to intervene.
Advertisement