Tesla reverses course: it removes the ability to play games on board its models

Some time ago, Tesla enabled a feature that thrilled owners of its models. At least those sitting in the front passenger seat. Passengers could use the screen of the electric car to play various video games. An activity that, in principle, did not bother the driver and would make every journey more comfortable, and which was called Passenger Play.

The system allowed the screen to be split into two parts: one showed driving-related information, while the other displayed the game. The passenger had several games available to enjoy a pleasant and entertaining journey. To access this option, the system asked whether the user was the passenger or the driver, and it only activated if the person about to play was the passenger.

However, this system generated controversy from the very beginning, so it was no surprise that someone complained about the risks of its use. This led the NHTS, the United States automotive safety agency, to ban its use in future Tesla vehicles. The system will remain operational in vehicles where it is already enabled, but a future software update will prevent it from working when the car is in motion.

The problem is that the system had no way to verify whether the person playing was the passenger or the driver, since this could only be checked through manual confirmation by the user. This could allow a driver to use the gaming system while driving, which poses an extreme risk.

Use by the passenger also carries risk, since this can distract the driver, and the driver’s control of the vehicle may also be affected if they look at the game instead of the road, creating distractions.

Once this has been reported, the NHTS will ask Tesla to disable the system and to ensure that it can only be used when the car is completely stopped.