Gaming in a Tesla has been possible for several years, but since the end of last year it has also been possible to play a game on the large multimedia screen while driving. Although this is only intended for passengers, the NHTSA is starting an investigation into the impact on road safety.
One of the reasons Tesla has become so popular is the wide range of gadgets in the cars. For example, you can play games on the central screen. In racing games, you can even use the steering wheel of the car to steer your virtual rip monster, of course when it’s stationary. Tesla understands that playing games while driving can be a nice addition for the person sitting next to the driver, so that is also possible since the end of 2020, when the brand introduced ‘Passenger Play’.
As the name implies, the aim is for the passenger to play the game. That is only logical, after all, the driver should be busy driving. Even if the car largely drives independently. Your own responsibility, you might say. However, the NHTSA, the authority that deals with road safety in the US, has serious questions. According to Automotive News launches an investigation into Passenger Play. It can ‘distract the driver and increase the risk of an accident’.
The NHTSA says it is investigating how often and how Passenger Play is used and points to guidelines regarding such functions. The NHTSA states that such a thing must be designed “so that it cannot be used by the driver if it takes the attention away from driving.” Although Passenger Play asks for confirmation that it is really the passenger who wants to play a game, it can also simply be confirmed by the person behind the wheel. Of course, it can also distract the driver if they are watching the passenger’s play.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl