Tesla Disables “Passenger Play” Feature in Response to NHTSA Concerns
Tesla’s central touch screens allow video games to be played while the vehicle is in motion. This was flagged as a potential distraction by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which opened an investigation after receiving a complaint from a Tesla owner. The NHTSA believed that this feature could cause distracted driving, and could be played by the driver while the vehicle was in motion. Tesla countered that the feature was intended for passenger use, and that the design did not create an unreasonable risk of distraction for the driver. The company further stated that no crashes had been reported while the feature was in use.
However, based on data received from Tesla, the agency found that during the year the “passenger play” feature was operational, it was only active for a small number of vehicle trips. In one-third of these trips, the feature was used while the vehicle was in motion, and nobody was in the passenger seat. The introduction of graphical content into the driver’s line of sight that is unrelated to driving “raises the potential to increase visual and cognitive distraction for the driver.” As a result, Tesla disabled the “passenger game” feature with an online software update issued in December 2021, covering over 580,000 vehicles from model years 2017-2022. The NHTSA then decided to close its investigation.
Tesla’s Response to NHTSA Concerns
During the investigation, Tesla stated that the feature was designed for passenger use only, since the touch screens allow passengers to use video games and access different functionalities of the car. In addition, Tesla argued that the use of the feature by drivers did not constitute a significant risk of driver distraction since the games were not available on the driver’s screen. The issue had sparked a broader debate over the role of car manufacturers in promoting road safety and the extent to which car owners should have access to certain features while driving.
The End of Rendered Distraction
The disabling of the “passenger play” feature by Tesla is yet another example of how technological advancements in the auto industry have pushed the boundaries of traditional driving experiences. At the same time, however, this raises questions about how much control car manufacturers should have over what users can do while driving. This, in turn, has implications for the way that regulators interpret the potential risks associated with new features. By disabling this feature under pressure from regulators, Tesla has shown a willingness to work with regulators while highlighting the importance of road safety.
Conclusion
Tesla has disabled its “passenger play” feature after concern from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it could cause driver distraction. The feature allowed video games to be played on the central touch screen while the vehicle was in motion. Tesla stated that the feature was designed for passenger use only. Still, data provided to the NHTSA showed that in a third of the vehicle trips when this feature was active, the vehicle was moving with no one in the passenger seat. As a result, Tesla removed the feature via an online software update in December 2021. The NHTSA has now closed its investigation. As technological advancements continue to push the boundaries of traditional driving experiences, car manufacturers must balance innovation with safety concerns, working with regulators to improve road safety.
Summary:
Tesla disabled the “passenger play” feature on its central touch screens, allowing video games to be played while the vehicle was in motion, due to concerns raised by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about driver distraction. The NHTSA received a complaint from a Tesla owner, and opened an investigation into the feature, which Tesla argued was designed for passenger use only. The investigation revealed that the feature was used while the vehicle was in motion, and nobody was in the passenger seat. Tesla then issued an online software update disabling the “passenger play” feature on over 580,000 vehicles. The NHTSA closed its investigation.
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DETROIT — US highway safety regulators have closed an investigation into tesla allowing video games to be played on the central touch screens while the vehicles are in motion.
He National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in documents released Tuesday that Tesla disabled the so-called “passenger play” feature with an online software update in December 2021, under pressure from the agency.
The agency said in documents that removing the “passenger game” resolved its concerns about distracted driving which could be caused by the feature.
He software update covered more than 580,000 vehicles from model years 2017 through 2022.
A month after the software update came out, Tesla reported that 97% of vehicles had received it.
the agency said opened the investigation in December 2021 after obtaining a complaint from a Tesla owner that the games can be played by the driver while the vehicles are in motion. The investigation was opened to assess the potential for driver distraction.
It says in the documents that the introduction of graphical content into the driver’s line of sight that is unrelated to driving “raises the potential to increase visual and cognitive distraction for the driver.”
Tesla had responded that the feature was designed for passenger use only and that the design did not create an unreasonable risk of distraction to the driver. The company said no crashes had been reported while the feature was in use for a year.
NHTSA wrote in documents that data received from Tesla showed that during the year that the “passenger game” was operational, it was active for a small number of vehicle trips. The agency did not say how many trips, but wrote that in about a third of those trips, the feature was used while vehicles were moving with no one in the passenger seat.
Related video:
https://www.autoblog.com/2023/05/30/tesla-passenger-play-video-games-nhtsa/
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