Tesla has been on the market since 2008. Teslas are equipped with a 17-inch screen that has a multitude of capabilities. Prior to December 2021, Tesla’s screen had a gameplay functionality called “Passenger Play.” This feature was intended to allow passengers to play videogames while a Tesla was in motion and allow drivers to play video games only when a Tesla was in park.
To differentiate between a passenger and a driver, “Passenger Play” asked individuals to click a button confirming they were passengers. Unfortunately, drivers were able to easily bypass this safety feature by also clicking the button stating they were passengers. This is concerning because distracted driving caused over 3,000 deaths in 2019, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
As of December 2021, Tesla has finally disabled its “Passenger Play” feature so that videogames cannot be accessed while driving. This means both drivers and passengers cannot play videogames when a Tesla is in motion. Hopefully this reduces the amount of distracted driving on roadways around Arizona. If you or someone you know has been injured by a distracted driver, an Arizona attorney may be able to help. Contact us now.