Tesla investigates reports that drivers may be playing their video games while the vehicle is moving

The US government says it is investigating more than half a million Tesla vehicles sold since 2017, following reports that drivers can play video games available on its main display screen while driving.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says it received a complaint in August that said live games and Internet web searching - which were believed to be limited to passenger use only while driving - could be used for any Time can be played by anyone in the vehicle. time. time. Its Defects and Investigation Office said in a report that it "confirmed that this capability has been available in vehicles equipped with Tesla 'Passenger Play' since December 2020."

ODI's initial evaluation will include an estimated 580,000 Tesla Model 3, Model S and Model X vehicles that were sold between model years 2017 and 2022" based on reports that Tesla gameplay functionality, which is visible from the driver's seat on the front center touchscreen This functionality, called 'passenger play', can distract the driver and increase the risk of an accident," according to the ODI report.

The New York Times reported earlier this month that Tesla is rolling out an over-the-air software update for video games playable in most of its vehicles this summer. The update allowed some games to be played on the center touch screen while the vehicles are in motion. Before the update, Tesla arcade games could only be played when a vehicle was parked. The Verge confirmed that a notification pops up when the game is launched, and the user must tap on the "I'm a passenger" confirmation button before playing. However, there is little to stop the driver from tapping the button and playing the game.

"Why is a manufacturer allowed to make an inherently distracting live video that takes up more than 2/3 of the screen the driver relies on for all vehicle information?" The complainant asked.

The Verge reached out to Tesla for comment on the investigation, but after disbanding its press office in 2020, the company rarely responds to media inquiries.