The highest court in Karlsruhe, Germany, has made a remarkable ruling with potentially gigantic consequences for the industry: a driver temporarily lost his driving license after changing the settings of the wipers on the central screen of his Tesla while driving.
Now it should be noted that the German’s action did not go smoothly. Looking at the settings on the screen, he hit his Model 3 off the road after which he hit some trees. This is evident from reports from the AD based on the German court reports. Fortunately, the driver was unscathed, but was fined € 200 and banned from driving for a month.
According to the court, a permanently installed touchscreen is an electronic device, so the driver was mistaken for operating it while driving. This statement can sometimes have major consequences, because with a Tesla – and now many other brands – a central touchscreen is crucial for operating the car. With a Model 3, for example, you control almost everything via the screen: from the lighting to opening the tailgate. As far as is known, Tesla or other manufacturers have not yet responded to the ruling. If this case becomes an example for other court decisions, many manufacturers will face a major challenge.