Following in the footsteps of Mercedes, Tesla has disabled its touchscreen video game feature while someone is driving.
Car and Driver reported that both automakers had permitted touchscreen video games to be played while a vehicle was in use, and while Mercedes swiftly offered a recall to eliminate the feature, Tesla did not volunteer to do the same until earlier this month.
Last week, ABC News reported that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had opened an initial evaluation into certain Tesla cars, including the Model 3, S, X and Y, which were manufactured between 2017 and 2022.
"We are aware of driver concerns and are discussing the feature with the manufacturer. The Vehicle Safety Act prohibits manufacturers from selling vehicles with design defects posing unreasonable risks to safety," the NHTSA said in a statement, according to Bloomberg.
Tesla distributed a recent over-the-air software fix that locks the “passenger play” feature while the car is in motion.
"NHTSA based its decision on reports that Tesla's game-play functionality is visible from the driver's seat and can be enabled while driving the vehicle," NHTSA said in a statement, according to ABC News.
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