Tesla recently released a software update that allows drivers to play video games on its center-mounted dashboard screens even when the vehicle is moving, but people who actually care about safety are expectedly worried and unimpressed.
They include the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which revealed on Wednesday that it had opened up a dialog with Tesla to figure out why such a dangerous feature was made available by the popular electric car manufacturer. Tesla owners can reportedly play games such as Sky Force Reloaded and Solitaire even when their eyes should be on the road.
“We are aware of driver concerns and are discussing the feature with the manufacturer,” the NHTSA said in a statement. “The Vehicle Safety Act prohibits manufacturers from selling vehicles with design defects posing unreasonable risks to safety.”
The investigation was seemingly prompted by an article published by The New York Times on Tuesday that pointed out Tesla owners could now play video games in moving cars. Gaming while driving seems to be a key marketing point for Tesla, whose promotional materials for the Model S includes a dashboard with hit titles such as The Witcher 3 and Cuphead.
“It should go without saying that enabling drivers to play or be distracted by video games while operating a multi-ton vehicle at highway speeds is exceedingly dangerous,” said Jason Levine, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety.
“NHTSA should move quickly from suggesting guidelines to enforcing the law against unreasonable risks to safety and Tesla should stop playing with the lives of their owners and anyone else sharing the road with these vehicles,” Levine added.
Source: Bloomberg