This Comes as a Shock to No One
Driving is so boring. I wish I could play video games. Everyone has thought this at some point. However, that quiet voice of common sense will always pipe up and say, “Not at the same time though, right?” Enter Tesla.
As you may know, the onboard computer system of Tesla cars can support a number games, such as Cuphead and Fallout Shelter. These games can be accessed through a feature called “Passenger Play.” As the name suggests, it is intended as play for the passenger, not the driver.
However, there is literally nothing stopping the driver from playing the games while they drive. Last week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Association announced that Passenger Play will change its function in a future software update. This is the result of a federal investigation into the matter by the NHTSA. Seems like an unnecessary amount of resources for the subject at hand though.
Up until December 2020, gameplay was only available when the Tesla was in park. The new description of the feature says, “‘Passenger Play’ will now be locked and unusable when the vehicle is in motion.” It is unclear what the difference is, but surely it adheres a little more to common sense.
There’s a reason why we should not talk on our phone or play Candy Crush while driving. Distracted driving is dangerous, y’all.
Should a Tesla’s onboard computer be used for visual entertainment at all? Let us know in the comments below.