US opens investigation into Tesla vehicles over game feature
(VOVWORLD) - US auto safety regulators said they have opened a formal safety investigation into 580,000 Tesla vehicles sold since 2017 over the automaker's decision to allow games to be played on the front center touchscreen.
 Drivers are capable of playing games on the giant screen on a Tesla car Model 3. (Photo: AFP) |
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said its preliminary evaluation covers various 2017-2022 Tesla Model 3, S, X, and Y vehicles.
This functionality, referred to as “Passenger Play,” "may distract the driver and increase the risk of a crash," the agency said.
It noted earlier in December that distracted driving accounts for a significant number of US road deaths – more than 3,000 in 2019 alone.
Safety advocates have said official figures underestimate the problem because not all drivers involved in crashes later admit they were distracted.