Tesla, an electric vehicle manufacturer, has caved into demands to restrict video games from playing on center touch displays while the vehicles are in motion.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a US transportation body, stated that the business would send a software update over the internet, indicating that the ‘Passenger Play’ option will remain closed when vehicles are in motion.
This comes just a day after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the start of an official inquiry into valid concerns about how Tesla video games distract drivers, with some of them being played while cars are being driven.
According to a statement from an NHTSA spokeswoman, the adjustment was made after regulators raised concerns about the system with Tesla. The first update was released on Wednesday as part of Tesla’s Holiday software release, and the remaining vehicles will receive the update today.
According to the NHTSA, Tesla’s investigation into the function will continue despite the update, but it’s unclear whether the agency will force Tesla to issue a formal recall as a result of the upgrade. The agency had previously questioned Tesla, asking why the business should not be obliged to conduct safety-related software update recalls.
In a document analysing the investigation, the agency stated that the ‘Passenger Play’ feature has been in use since December 2020, but that prior to that, enabling gameplay was only possible when the vehicles were in park. However, the NHTSA did not list any crashes or injuries caused by the problem.
Patton submitted the complaint in November 2021 after noticing that the gaming feature may be used by drivers. While he likes his car and has nothing against the Tesla brand, he is concerned that drivers will play games and get dangerously distracted. “Someone is going to die,” he said. “It’s completely irrational.”
