Tesla removes a controversial in-car feature in the wake of a probe from US safety authorities.
Tesla has quietly suspended software within its cars that allows passengers to play complex video games while on the move – following pressure from US regulators – after the feature was available for just a few short weeks.
The Passenger Play feature enabled the use of the widescreen infotainment display as a monitor for playing video games while on the move, intended for the front seat passenger.
The United States’ National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) took issue with the over-the-air update, insisting Passenger Play could distract the driver – as the games could be played by the driver, taking their eyes and concentration off the road – and cause crashes.
It launched a formal investigation last week, but Tesla has beat the safety body to the punch by agreeing to disallow video games to be played when a Tesla is on the move.
The NHTSA says Tesla will put out an over-the-air update fix to lock Passenger Play while its vehicles are in motion.
While Tesla obviously intended the feature to be utilised only by passengers, drivers could easily lean over and bypass the warning by tapping “I am a passenger”, which is required to activate games.
Online reports have circulated detailing how drivers of the Model 3, Model S, Model Y, and Model X were playing the games themselves. The NHTSA said more than 580,000 Tesla vehicles in the United States alone were equipped with Passenger Play.
The NHTSA is also investigating Tesla’s Autopilot function, which has been linked with potentially causing collisions with parked emergency vehicles.
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