It will no longer be potential to play video games on a Tesla console whereas the car is in movement, federal auto security regulators introduced Thursday.
The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration stated that Tesla will ship out a software program replace so the perform known as “Passenger Play” will be locked and will not work whereas autos are moving. Passenger Play permits passengers to use the entrance touchscreen to play basic video games like Millipede and Asteroids.
The announcement comes in the future after the company stated it could open an investigation into distracted driving considerations about Tesla’s video games.
An company spokeswoman stated in a press release Thursday that regulators mentioned their considerations in regards to the system with Tesla. The primary software program replace went out Wednesday as a part of Tesla’s vacation software program launch, and the remainder of the autos ought to get it earlier than Christmas Eve.
Tesla couldn’t be reached for remark.
The company introduced it could examine Tesla’s screens after an proprietor from the Portland, Oregon, space filed a grievance when he found that a driver might play games whereas the cars are moving. Passenger Play is meant to activate solely when a Tesla automotive is in park, security officers stated.
Tesla proprietor Vince Patton, 59, filed the grievance final month after discovering the gaming characteristic may very well be performed by drivers. Patton, who stated he loves his automotive and has nothing in opposition to Tesla, stated he nervous that drivers will play games and turn out to be dangerously distracted.
“Somebody’s going to get killed,” he stated. “It’s absolutely insane.”
Security officers said they’ve the identical considerations, though there have been no crashes or accidents brought on by Passenger Play so far, NHTSA stated.
Regardless of the upcoming software program replace, NHTSA stated it nonetheless plans to conduct its investigation. The probe will cowl about 580,000 Tesla Fashions S, X, Y and three from the 2017 by means of 2022 mannequin years.
NHTSA already is investigating why Tesla’s “Autopilot” partially automated driving system retains crashing into stopped emergency autos. It is also wanting into the efficiency of Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” software program after getting a grievance that it practically prompted a crash. The techniques have been partially blamed for collisions in Detroit and Houston.
Tesla has stated neither system can drive autos and that drivers should listen and be able to intervene always.