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A New Tesla Safety Concern: Drivers Can Play Video Games in Moving Cars (Up: Tesla backing down)

I'm saying the same screen that you can play video games on is also the one you use to engage your headlights. Or put the car into reverse.

From an enforcement standpoint, that's a pretty big deal. You can (and most states have) made it illegal to use a personal device while driving. They can't make it illegal to use the screen in a Tesla without outright banning them from being on the road.

This is really not difficult. If you get caught drinking in the car...DUI. If you get caught on your phone...ticket. If you get caught playing a game on the screen...ticket. Why does everyone need the government to tell them how and what they can do. Does this generation really need there hands held with everything.
 
You are not the driver so what the issue?
Its a distraction for the driver - whether you care to admit it or not.
Having game visuals constantly flashing around in your peripheral vision is a distraction - especially when the screen is so fucking big. Doubly so in the Model 3, where there's no central gauge cluster, and just a single central screen through which you control all of the car's functions.

Its just a total mess and a failure in vehicle design.

This is really not difficult. If you get caught drinking in the car...DUI. If you get caught on your phone...ticket. If you get caught playing a game on the screen...ticket. Why does everyone need the government to tell them how and what they can do. Does this generation really need there hands held with everything.

Because when you are irresponsible enough to play games while driving, you could t-bone someone else and potentially kill someone. When you drive a car recklessly, you're not just putting yourself at risk, you're putting everyone else on the road (and padestrians) at risk. That's why we have traffic laws, speed limits etc. in the first place. If some gobshite tech billionaire wants to meme around and enable gaming while driving, then the traffic authorities have every fucking right to slap them into line.

All this business of adding massive touchscreens to replace physical controls, just to appease the tech enthusiast and Tesla generation is nonsensical. Until we have fully autonomous driving, eliminating distractions from drivers should be the absolute priority for car manufacturers.
 
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Hardensoul

Member
Lots of people in here commenting about Teslas don’t seem to know how it operates.

If you think someone playing game on that screen is distracting, don’t drive or tell your passenger not to play games on it! It’s that simple!
 

mckmas8808

Banned
This is really not difficult. If you get caught drinking in the car...DUI. If you get caught on your phone...ticket. If you get caught playing a game on the screen...ticket. Why does everyone need the government to tell them how and what they can do. Does this generation really need there hands held with everything.

I see where you're going with this, but we do need some rules of engagement in life.
 

GeekyDad

Member
Lots of people in here commenting about Teslas don’t seem to know how it operates.

If you think someone playing game on that screen is distracting, don’t drive or tell your passenger not to play games on it! It’s that simple!
This is my first time noticing this thread. I laughed initially when reading the OP.

That being said, I only have a vague understanding of how these vehicles operate. If it's okay with everyone else, I'd like to know more about it. So, please explain.
 

Hardensoul

Member
This is my first time noticing this thread. I laughed initially when reading the OP.

That being said, I only have a vague understanding of how these vehicles operate. If it's okay with everyone else, I'd like to know more about it. So, please explain.
Some of the most important things still have manual buttons or levers. Most things are and can be set to be automated on the touchscreen.

Tesla still have physical shifters(Reverse, Neutral, Drive & Park).

Buttons for quick wiper/fluid(Touchscreen can be setup of automation(variable speed), sensors can detect rain).

Cruise control and autopilot toggle with levers on steering column.

Volume control (media once you pick your media Spotify, iPod..., only audio media). Have phone sync? Buttons on steering wheel for handsfree.

Lights - only high beam, all that is auto detection usually comes on when dark - can setup options in touchscreen

Most other stuff can be setup for auto to your desired setting, way too many to list. But the most important things needed for driving are physical on button/levers by Steering wheel/Column.

Usually video media does not work when you are driving, just audio media works. Normally the touchscreen would default to 1/3 driver instrument data and other 2/3 is google maps? or is it /Teslas's own map?

I admit I did not know you can play games when Tesla is in drive. But it should be a non issue if you are driving. Shouldn't be doing stuff that distracts you from being a safe driver.
 

GeekyDad

Member
Some of the most important things still have manual buttons or levers. Most things are and can be set to be automated on the touchscreen.

Tesla still have physical shifters(Reverse, Neutral, Drive & Park).

Buttons for quick wiper/fluid(Touchscreen can be setup of automation(variable speed), sensors can detect rain).

Cruise control and autopilot toggle with levers on steering column.

Volume control (media once you pick your media Spotify, iPod..., only audio media). Have phone sync? Buttons on steering wheel for handsfree.

Lights - only high beam, all that is auto detection usually comes on when dark - can setup options in touchscreen

Most other stuff can be setup for auto to your desired setting, way too many to list. But the most important things needed for driving are physical on button/levers by Steering wheel/Column.

Usually video media does not work when you are driving, just audio media works. Normally the touchscreen would default to 1/3 driver instrument data and other 2/3 is google maps? or is it /Teslas's own map?

I admit I did not know you can play games when Tesla is in drive. But it should be a non issue if you are driving. Shouldn't be doing stuff that distracts you from being a safe driver.
Yeah, see, now that's all stuff I knew about it (their vehicles) already. So, I'm not sure I understand, then, your original post that I quoted. Even with the car kinda driving itself, it would still seem necessary for the pilot (I'll call the driver) to be completely focused on the road, so to speak. And this is why I think the Tesla company should be more active in making their customers and the public in general about their role as the pilot: what their responsibilities are, what the limitations of the technology are, etc. And it seems likely they don't do that because they don't want the general public to think of the vehicles as being limited in that area.
 

Hardensoul

Member
I finally saw the video, the OP link was behind paywall. Seems the playable game takes up the Google maps side of the screen. The unplayable games must be because those take up the whole screen.

Anywaysto play you must choose “I am a passenger”. Guess there’s no way to stop idiot drivers from lying to play just like how do you stop idiots from texting and driving or other distractions.

This is not just a Tesla issue. Like other posters said, what’s to stop other non Tesla driving’s from doing same setup!

 

Hardensoul

Member
Yeah, see, now that's all stuff I knew about it (their vehicles) already. So, I'm not sure I understand, then, your original post that I quoted. Even with the car kinda driving itself, it would still seem necessary for the pilot (I'll call the driver) to be completely focused on the road, so to speak. And this is why I think the Tesla company should be more active in making their customers and the public in general about their role as the pilot: what their responsibilities are, what the limitations of the technology are, etc. And it seems likely they don't do that because they don't want the general public to think of the vehicles as being limited in that area.
There are important things people misunderstand. Autopilot and FSD(Full Self Driving) which is still in Beta. Both require the driver to pay attention.

I'll only speak of Autopilot since I'm not in FSD Beta and I don't want to pay the extra 10k Dollars.

Autopilot is enhance cruise control, it can do regular set speed. Second it can do set speed and auto steer, stay in the current lane. But both can follow cars in front at set distance(2,3,4 or 5 car lengths behind) and sensors will adjust the speed when it get close slow car ahead. Also, the Car will do a flash onscreen/notification prompt every couple minutes to remind you to do something either nudge steering wheel or hit button on steering wheel to see if you are being attentive.
 
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Miles708

Member
You aren't required to play video games to operate the car, either. I'm not sure what your point is. Are you saying that nothing else in the car works when video games are on the screen?
You shouldn't be able to play games while driving your car. Come on this should be the absolute basics.

The fact that the car software is engineered to enable this behavior is hysterical at best.
 
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mckmas8808

Banned
Yeah, see, now that's all stuff I knew about it (their vehicles) already. So, I'm not sure I understand, then, your original post that I quoted. Even with the car kinda driving itself, it would still seem necessary for the pilot (I'll call the driver) to be completely focused on the road, so to speak. And this is why I think the Tesla company should be more active in making their customers and the public in general about their role as the pilot: what their responsibilities are, what the limitations of the technology are, etc. And it seems likely they don't do that because they don't want the general public to think of the vehicles as being limited in that area.

Tesla does this all the time. In their press releases, emails, on their Tesla app, on their Youtube page, and on the tablet screen in the car while you're driving. Nobody that owns a Tesla actually thinks the car is a full self driving car.
 

EverydayBeast

thinks Halo Infinite is a new graphical benchmark
Why would I play video games in a moving car? It’s not a pair unless you’re in a RV, or bus.
 

Kadve

Member
They have now decided to remove the feature.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/dec/23/tesla-vehicles-video-games-driving

Under pressure from US auto safety regulators, Tesla has agreed to stop allowing video games to be played on center touch screens while its vehicles are moving.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the company will send out a software update over the internet so the function called “Passenger Play” will be locked and won’t work while vehicles are in motion.
 
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jshackles

Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
Glad to see Tesla removing this. There was some talk from my state legislature (and even local government) to ban Telsas from driving on our roads over this. The blowback would have been pretty severe from both sides I feel.
 
That is what I get.
If you are not the driver why can't you not play games?

I see no security concern here.

I should watch a movie or use my cellpone because I'm not driving at all.
Or better take a nap... long travels are very boring so a nap fix all issues.
It depends on the country and the tyes of roads I believe.They are not fully autonomous yet.

I guessed it was when you are in auto drive mode that I will just take a nap or use the cellphone.

Tesla Autopilot (NOA, FSD) Are not self driving, nor autonomous in any way.
They are a Level 2 ADAS (driver assist system) like the ones found in other cars.
You are required to pay attention to the system and the road and take over in an instant or you will DIE or worst kill another roaduser.
If you use your cell phone or nap, you will die or take another life.

This is serious. There are alot of misinformation pedalled by tesla, elon musk and their fanbase.
 

mckmas8808

Banned
Tesla Autopilot (NOA, FSD) Are not self driving, nor autonomous in any way.
They are a Level 2 ADAS (driver assist system) like the ones found in other cars.
You are required to pay attention to the system and the road and take over in an instant or you will DIE or worst kill another roaduser.
If you use your cell phone or nap, you will die or take another life.

This is serious. There are alot of misinformation pedalled by tesla, elon musk and their fanbase.

The bolded is NOT true at all! Almost NOBODY states that their Tesla is a full self driving car. Elon hasn't said this, nor has Tesla or the car owners. Maybe some dummies on Twitter that are "fans" of Elon, but why listen to "those" people?
 

Miles708

Member
The bolded is NOT true at all! Almost NOBODY states that their Tesla is a full self driving car. Elon hasn't said this, nor has Tesla or the car owners. Maybe some dummies on Twitter that are "fans" of Elon, but why listen to "those" people?

It's even called "Autopilot" for goodness sake.
 

mckmas8808

Banned
It's even called "Autopilot" for goodness sake.

But you can clearly see the "*" that explains that you need to keep aware at all times. Please when you turn it on in the car, it states the same thing. Nobody turns on Autopilot or FSD Beta and thinks it's okay to now take a nap and you'll wake up at your destination.
 

mckmas8808

Banned
Way to many would knowing humanity. The Darwin awards exists for a reason.

LOL! Well...if that's the case, that's the issue with the idiot behind the wheel's problem and not Tesla. And you're right, people still drink while drunk so.........
 
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people still drink while drunk

sesame street nodding GIF
 
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