Tesla under investigation by NHTSA over passenger game feature

Tesla is under investigation by the NHTSA regarding its Passenger Play feature after opening the feature while the vehicle is in motion.

Tesla is an automaker that has already revolutionized the way we think about the automotive industry, including seeing the car as a standalone software product with upgrades, unlockable features, and more. The brand has also included a number of very modern and interesting options in its vehicles. One of them costs him today to be under the blow of the investigation.

Tesla Under Investigation by NHTSA for ‘Playing with Passengers’ Feature

One of the very interesting features, but also quite strange, after all, present in Tesla cars is the ability to play video games right on the touch screen of the dashboard. This feature is called Passenger Play. Initially, you could only play when the car was stationary, in a parked position, but this summer Tesla released a rather controversial update that allows you to play while the car is in motion.

after opening this function while driving the car

Thus, the brand simply wants to offer the passenger another way to pass the time while the driver is driving, but at the same time, what prevents the driver from playing a video game himself? This is a matter of concern, and rightly so. So much so that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the US federal agency responsible for traffic safety, has announced that it is launching a formal investigation into this particular feature.

According to the agency’s preliminary assessment, “The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is beginning Pre-Evaluation (PE) of certain Model 3, S, X, and Y vehicles manufactured between 2017 and 2022 following reports alleging that video game functionality Tesla, which is visible on the center console touchscreen from the driver’s seat, can be activated even while driving. This feature, dubbed “Passenger Play”, can distract the driver and increase the risk of an accident.”

No one knows at this stage sanctions against Tesla can be applied and to what extent, it will depend on the results of the investigation, but the manufacturer has not yet responded to this statement.