Federal safety regulatory authorities are investigating Tesla for a feature that allows drivers to play video games while the car is in motion.
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The documentation for the investigation, which was revealed on Wednesday by the National Road Traffic Safety Administration, states that the feature, known as “Passenger Play”, has been available to drivers since December 2020. The video games appear on the touch screen of the dashboard and are intended for passengers. However, nothing prevents drivers from playing while the car is in motion, according to the documentation related to the investigation.
Before December 2020, the game was activated only when the vehicle was parked, the NHTSA research document reported. Even if the game is played by a passenger and not by the driver, «it can distract the driver’s attention and increase the risk of a collision», according to the NHTSA.
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Tesla, as is known, is trying to provide driver assistance features that allow its cars to decelerate, accelerate, and even change lanes without active driver participation.
The company warns that drivers using such features, known as “Autopilot” and “FSD,” for full self-driving, must remain alert and keep their hands on the wheel. However, Tesla has been criticized several times for making it easier for drivers to not pay enough attention while driving.
The NHTSA is currently investigating Tesla for at least 11 accidents involving cars that use the autopilot or other self‑driving features. These 11 accidents are responsible for 17 injuries and one death, according to the agency.
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U.S. regulatory authorities highlight distracted driving as a significant safety risk on American roads. The NHTSA estimates that in 2019, 3.142 people were killed in accidents involving distracted drivers in 2019.
The research on Passenger Play began after a complaint was filed in November by an unknown Tesla owner. The complaint reported that the feature allows playing video games and browsing the web while the car is moving.
Source of information: edition.cnn.com
