Tesla Will Disable Video Games While Cars Are Moving, Following Safety Pressures

Following an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) into reports that video games on Tesla’s infotainment dashboards remained playable while the car was moving, the automaker will be disabling the feature when vehicles are on the road.

A company spokesperson said that the firm is currently in discussions with authorities, though it’s uncertain when the amended feature will be rolled out. However, it doesn’t seem that the NHTSA will be calling off its investigation despite the update, with a representative saying the agency will continue looking into the matter. 

According to Engadget, while the system prompts players to ascertain they are a passenger before starting a game, the NHTSA said it could still “distract the driver and increase the risk of a crash.”

As per the Vehicle Safety Act, companies aren’t allowed to sell cars that pose significant safety risks, of which distracted driving is a part of. Over 580,000 Model 3, S, X, and Y vehicles sold since 2017 are being looked into under this investigation.

If Tesla does amend its system, it won’t be the first company to fix such an error—recently, Mercedes-Benz updated a system that allowed video playback while the car was on the go. 

[via Engadget, cover image via Tesla]